Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Swampman on March 20, 2015, 09:19:48 pm

Title: Black Locust stash
Post by: Swampman on March 20, 2015, 09:19:48 pm
Last weekend I cut a couple of small black locust trees. They were very straight.  One tree I managed to get 18 feet of logs.  Today I peeled the bark off and look what I found on a bunch of it.  Anyone want to make bows out of this?

(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t475/Mrpdap/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/ED86EDDE-70B9-42EB-8A70-3D0799C4F07D_zpsvgcbygfc.jpg) (http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/Mrpdap/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/ED86EDDE-70B9-42EB-8A70-3D0799C4F07D_zpsvgcbygfc.jpg.html)

I did manage to get 4 really good staves.  I also got another 5 staves that I think will yield some really cool character bows with holes through them. I was pretty disappointed with what I yielded out of these trees.  The bugs sure have been busy.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 20, 2015, 10:19:49 pm
The BL in NH has become very buggy also. I don't know what happened. BL in NH used to be clean. Jawge
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: wizardgoat on March 20, 2015, 10:42:57 pm
Brutal. How deep does it go?
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Swampman on March 20, 2015, 11:01:30 pm
Brutal. How deep does it go?

It goes all the way to the center.  These were high up in the tree so I didn't notice before I cut them.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: PatM on March 20, 2015, 11:51:04 pm
As the range of the locust expands due to it being a popular ornamental the range of the beetle expands too.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: loefflerchuck on March 21, 2015, 01:15:53 am
I just got the same thing. They cut all the invasive trees from the creek at the park near my house. I took 5 of the best logs and 15 of 17 staves are completely worthless from many bug holes. the other 2 may yield a bow
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Jodocus on March 21, 2015, 04:18:06 am
 :o Never seen that. Doesn't exist here. What's that, a beetle, you say? Gonna have to cut me a reserve of BL before it flies over the pond...
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: CrazyHorse1969 on March 21, 2015, 10:07:11 am
I just got the same thing. They cut all the invasive trees from the creek at the park near my house. I took 5 of the best logs and 15 of 17 staves are completely worthless from many bug holes. the other 2 may yield a bow

Same deal where I live. The DNR recently removed--and have been removing--White Ash at a major Sate Park (and elsewhere) because of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. There were some old, monster White Ash being cut up for nothing more than fire wood I presume. It is hard to find an unaffected White Ash in my state.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Jim Davis on March 21, 2015, 10:12:06 am
Just another example of the benefits of interaction with other parts of the world--emerald ash borer, oak beetle, Dutch elm disease, medfly. Ain't diversity grand!
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Hrothgar on March 21, 2015, 10:16:34 am
For that reason I've given up cutting black locust. I think my bugs were 'just' borers since the emerald ash borers are only now invading Missouri.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: PatM on March 21, 2015, 10:23:15 am
Just another example of the benefits of interaction with other parts of the world--emerald ash borer, oak beetle, Dutch elm disease, medfly. Ain't diversity grand!
No. The Locust borer is native and has always depended on the tree.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Bullitt on March 21, 2015, 10:33:12 am
Black locust is one of my favorites, and that makes me sick to see!
Agree with Jim, free trade is not all good!

There is a disease issue now, here in the midwest, with black walnut.

Best to ya with the 4 good staves.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Springbuck on March 24, 2015, 05:40:06 am
  Everything I cut looks like that.  I started walking by the smaller trees, as they seem to have the most of it.  Sigh.  start chasing out some rings roughly, and sometimes you get lucky and the bow is in there.
Title: Re: Black Locust stash
Post by: Swampman on March 24, 2015, 09:35:09 am
I plan on chasing rings on the "best" staves and see what I get.  Maybe I will get lucky on some of them.  I gave a lot more trees to cut from this same farm.  The person wants them gone.  hopefully some of the trees aren't hit but I am not confident in that.