Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ssgtchad on March 15, 2012, 07:34:43 pm

Title: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: ssgtchad on March 15, 2012, 07:34:43 pm

Need some help....advise. Does all the sapwood need to be removed for a BL bow. Thanks for the help!

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 15, 2012, 08:24:46 pm

Yes, if you have enough heartwood take off the sapwood. If not then get as close as you can to the heartwood. Jawge

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: randman on March 16, 2012, 06:13:12 am

I have been wondering the same thing myself. I just acquired a really nice BL branch. What if you just decrowned the back of smaller branch (2 3/8") down to the heartwood to maintain enough width for an acceptable bow. As long as the rings are parallel and straight lines down the surface of the back (looking similar to quartersawn boards) it should be OK shouldn't it? Even though there is still some sapwood on the outside corners of the back?
Sorry Sgt. don't mean to hijack but this might (or not) apply in your case as well.

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: mikekeswick on March 16, 2012, 06:34:10 am

Quote from: randman on March 16, 2012, 06:13:12 am

I have been wondering the same thing myself. I just acquired a really nice BL branch. What if you just decrowned the back of smaller branch (2 3/8") down to the heartwood to maintain enough width for an acceptable bow. As long as the rings are parallel and straight lines down the surface of the back (looking similar to quartersawn boards) it should be OK shouldn't it? Even though there is still some sapwood on the outside corners of the back?
Sorry Sgt. don't mean to hijack but this might (or not) apply in your case as well.

That would work just fine.

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 16, 2012, 11:05:41 am

Yes, it would but it would be better to leave the branch a few inches longer and the back intact. Decrowning is unnecessary if the stave can be left longer. Jawge

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: Jude on March 16, 2012, 02:27:48 pm

Having had a bad experience with BL sapwood, I would say lose it all, just my opinion.  I'm also thinking that BL likes a crowned back and a flat belly, doesn't it?  Though the sapwood on the corners of a decrowned branch might not be adding much tension compared to the heartwood in the middle.  I would still round the corners off the sapwood to avoid a splinter

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: ssgtchad on March 17, 2012, 12:13:46 am

Thanks everyone, I was hoping that the sap wood was okay,.guess I got alot of draw knife work ahead of me. ;D

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 17, 2012, 12:24:32 am

Depends on how much heartwood you have. Do you have enough to make a bow? Jawge

Title: Re: Sap wood on a Black Locust
Post by: ssgtchad on March 17, 2012, 12:31:03 am

I don't think so sir, plus there was some short of borrowing critter are down the entire length in the heart. The stave is about 74” and nice and straight.