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Author Topic: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?  (Read 2191 times)

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Offline PaSteve

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Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« on: October 11, 2019, 07:37:47 am »
This is a lightweight black locust bow I'm building. Going for 60" ntn and 25#@24". While working the belly this hole appeared. The limb is not quite at floor tiller but getting close. I stuck a pin in there and it almost goes through the limb but bottoms out before going through the back. Should I be concerned? Possibly fill it with saw dust and epoxy or super glue?  The hole is about 3/32" in diameter. Thanks for replies. Steve
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Offline Ryan Jacob

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2019, 07:52:15 am »
I would be worried, the thin wood left at that spot might compromise the wood on the back.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2019, 08:07:49 am »
Steve-o, if the hole is straight through without collateral damage, then continue on, but drill it through first, don't leave that thin bottom end section intact.  If you think they may have a cave dug out within the limb, start another one.
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Offline TimBo

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2019, 09:23:18 am »
I was just working a BL stave that had a pretty similar hole and found an excavated area the size of a half dollar.  You never know what lies beneath the surface...that has happened to me a couple of times, so I am pretty leery of worm holes.
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Offline bassman

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2019, 11:30:45 am »
I just built 3 Elm bows that had  rotted knots, crooks,and turns etc. I fixed some pretty big knot holes . Some ran straight from back to belly, and some ran horizontal. I made sure  I cleaned all the rotten wood, and put Elm  saw dust, and  crazy glue,packing the dust as tight as I could. No problems yet. Go for it.
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Offline Badger

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2019, 12:28:10 pm »
  Elm will tolerate things that black locust won't because of the inter locking grain. I have used elm boards with massive run outs and had no problems.
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Offline bassman

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2019, 02:25:23 pm »
I have used that deal with about every wood I have  ever used. Not just Elm. Has always worked well for me.
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Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2019, 04:04:46 pm »
I would probably try it since its light weight,, but thats no guarantee it gonna work,, :NN
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Offline PaSteve

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2019, 05:24:41 pm »
Thanks for the replies. I'll proceed with caution and plug it hoping that it may tolerate a light draw weight. If not, at least I'll learn something.
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"It seems so much more obvious with bows than with other matters, that we are the guardians of the prize we seek." Dean Torges

Offline Hamish

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2019, 05:48:35 pm »
If you want to be 100% sure, drill and plug, then back it with rawhide or sinew.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2019, 09:35:39 pm »
Some of the BL around here in my yard started having insect holes. It was multiple holes per stave. Thankfully, I did not see any such holes in the last BL stave I worked.

Truthfully, these staves found their way to the wood stove.

Since you started it,  I would drill it and plug it. I would use a wood glue. It would help  to leave extra wood around the width and tiller that area slightly stiff.

I would not trust it in the deer woods.

Jawge



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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Black Locust: Worm Hole? Should I be concerned?
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2019, 07:32:45 am »
Innocent looking bug holes often do this below the surface.

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