Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: nclonghunter on January 27, 2014, 09:21:26 pm
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Cut a black locust today and got a few staves. The bark was wet and it would peel easily, which surprised me for this time of year. The staves had about three inches of sap wood and then the darker heart wood. What is best for making a bow from black locust? Use the sap wood which is thick enough to make a bow or go down to the heart wood and start there?
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Let it season first. And go to heartwood. I'm making one now
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Ive never seen black locust with that much sapwood, usually 1/2" or so of sapwood and the rest is heartwood. I would like to see a pic of what you have.
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Ive never seen black locust with that much sapwood, usually 1/2" or so of sapwood and the rest is heartwood. I would like to see a pic of what you have.
+1
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Two inches sounds more like honey locust. How long and where were the thorns?
I've made them with a sap ring or two on the back for contrast, but for anything heavy always go down to the heartwood.
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Only pictures I have are on my Iphone and I am using an IPad, which is a pain in the rear to get pictures on here...
The tree had very few thorns and the ones that were there are small. I have cut honey locust in WV that had thorns all over it and big ones. Different bark also.
I thought the sapwood was thick also..will try to get on a lap top and get a picture up...Thanks
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Def sounds like slot of sap wood. Unless it just grew stupid fast for the last couple years
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All the black locust I've cut had just 3 rings of sapwood and no more than 1/2" thick, don't know but thinking you may have cut something else.
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Here are a couple pics....
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Looks like the "honey locust" that I have cut.
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What other trees would have thorns like locust. The tree just had a few small clusters scattered around the tree. stuck one in my hand. It may be a honey locust, but the bark, size and amount of thorns are different than what I cut in WV and that was suppose to be a honey locust...got me?
I will go down to the heart wood to make bows when it dries... ;D
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If there were thorns on the trunk anywhere it was honey locust. Which is what the pictures look like.
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that's honey locust all right
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Yep, HL. Pretty stuff, isn't it :D
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I have an amazing honey locust stave that I have been staring at for three years. One of these days I am going to either turn out a bow or ruin it.
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Well Darn....I was told it was black locust and since it looked different than what I had cut before I believed it....black locust is as elusive as Osage for me..lol
Thanks for all the help. Can always count on the great knowledge and good folks here.. :D
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That's indeed not black locust. But since the staves look great and you have them cut and split already, have a go with it!
Seal the ends as soon as possible! Not after dinner, but NOW!
Stop reading and seal the ends!
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That is some good looking wood even though its not black locust. Ive never tried honeylocust so I cant give much advice. Good luck with it and keep us posted.
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Since the bark is removed......
You need to seal the BACKS as well.
Three layers of Polyurethane is what I use. Just slop it on.
David
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I got fooled by some thornless honey locust last year. My buddy and I hauled it out of the woods the hard way too... ::)
Pretty wood though so will give it a try. Good luck with yours.
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Seal the ends as soon as possible! Not after dinner, but NOW!
Darksoul, you got it right, I did eat dinner then sealed the ends..funny
I have made a couple bows from HL and they did fine. Mine followed the string a couple inches, but most of my bows do so I am not surprised.. ???