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Author Topic: Black locust sapling bow recommendations  (Read 948 times)

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Offline silent sniper

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Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« on: March 27, 2020, 10:12:17 am »
Hello everyone,
I have some questions about this small sapling bow I am working on. I have a black locust sapling truck that I split in half for billets. I have worked the grain down to the heartwood and the entire width is under 2”. What I am unsure about is the high crown and general overall design to make with this bow. I don't have much experience with self-backed black locust, so I was not sure if it could handle this much crown? The stave has a few knots on the top on the crown but nothing too ugly. Should I keep the belly wide or reduce the width to take the strain off the back and just make the bow longer?

I love laminated bows and I could just as easily decrown the billets and add a bamboo/wood backing if that would be a better option. I just wanted to give it a chance as a self-backed bow before I go to the backed option.



Let me know what you think would be best.
Thanks
Taylor

The check in the billet is only a few inches long and will be removed when I splice the billets together.
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« Last Edit: March 27, 2020, 11:00:58 am by silent sniper »
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2020, 10:41:53 am »
A crowned back is a good thing for locust. Several builders prefer to "trap" the back on flatter staves. I would only narrow it enough to get shoulders on it and not abrupt edges where the back transitions to the belly. 
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Offline HH~

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Re: Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2020, 10:54:56 am »
Smaller rings here would be of benefit I think.

HH~
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2020, 12:21:01 pm »
I'd say to keep the belly flat.
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bownarra

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Re: Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2020, 02:03:06 pm »
Crowned sapling bows generally perform better than you might think. I would go dead flat belly. Leave the crown as it is. The tree thought it was strong enough when it grew like that :)
Good luck and get the tiller dead nuts on right off the bat.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2020, 02:38:25 pm »
Flat belly is good but leave it longer by a good 2 inches. Leave the crown. No need to chase a ring either. Jawge
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Offline silent sniper

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Re: Black locust sapling bow recommendations
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2020, 07:55:53 pm »
Thanks guys, I appreciate the help
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