Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: fishfinder401 on January 27, 2011, 11:15:53 am

Title: black locust english longbow
Post by: fishfinder401 on January 27, 2011, 11:15:53 am

does anyone know if an english longbow would be worth attemptingwith black locust, i am looking for a draw weight around 100lbs or more

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: Cacatch on January 27, 2011, 11:23:56 am

I have not made one of these in the true English style. But good long narrow bows can be made from Black Locust, however you would not be able to go as narrow as with Yew for example. I would think a 70-74" ntn and around 1  1/4" to 1  1/2" wide would work well. And Locust is a good strong wood and very hard, I don't think it would be tough to get at least 100lbs out of it. I have BL bows way shorter than 70 inches long that are pulling over 60. 

CP

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: Pat B on January 27, 2011, 12:53:45 pm

...also you might want to make the bow with a flatter belly than what is considered a true deeply arched belly longbow style and I think this is a traditional style for less compression strong bow woods anyway.

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: fishfinder401 on January 27, 2011, 01:42:30 pm

i figured it would have to be slightly flatter, but its good to know trying it wouldn't be a waste of time

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: Pat B on January 27, 2011, 01:45:50 pm

If you can make it long and make it bend from tip to tip, like a war bow should, you should be OK.

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: gianluca100 on April 10, 2011, 07:09:30 pm

hello fishfinder,

black locust is very strong in tension but a bit weak in compression. so instead of rounding the belly you could narrow/round the back a bit more than usual. this would take advantage of the high tension strength of bl and level out a bit the compression weakness by shifting the neutral plane towards the back.

ciao,
gian-luca

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: fishfinder401 on April 10, 2011, 07:52:48 pm

Quote from: gianluca100 on April 10, 2011, 07:09:30 pm

hello fishfinder,

black locust is very strong in tension but a bit weak in compression. so instead of rounding the belly you could narrow/round the back a bit more than usual. this would take advantage of the high tension strength of bl and level out a bit the compression weakness by shifting the neutral plane towards the back.

ciao,
gian-luca

thanks for the idea, and judging by you 1 post, im guessing you are new to the site, so welcome and if you need any help, there most likely is a person on here to help you ;D
noel

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: nidrinr on April 10, 2011, 08:58:22 pm

-Just make the bow 78"-80" long, heat treat the belly and use a crowned back. I guess BL will do fine up to at least 150#. 

Title: Re: black locust english longbow
Post by: gianluca100 on April 14, 2011, 04:37:05 am

hello fishfinder,

thanks for the welcome. actually i've been reading paleo planet and pa for quite some years now and posted only occasionally on pp.

thanks also for offering help. i've made quite a lot of bows since 1997, but if i find a difficult question that puzzles me, i will post it here, no doubt  ;D

cio,
gian-luca