Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on October 07, 2024, 08:23:45 pm
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I have some black streaks showing up in the Black locust bow I am making. I got it when it had only been cut and split for only a few weeks. It was debarked and properly sealed. I put it up indoors and weighed it weekly to track the moisture loss. I do not believe this is a fungal rot, but I have never worked Black locust before.
Anyone?
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I see this in a lot of woods and believe they are mineral streaks from where it grew. I see it a lot in poplar and osage, the streaks in osage are reddish.
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I’ve made a number of black locust selfbows and I see those dark streaks in nearly every bow. I’m not sure what causes them but I’ve never had a problem with them.
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I’ve only built a couple but seen the same . I just thought that was the characteristics of the wood.
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My friend dropped a big one in his yard not long ago, and my son, and I split it into staves. I will be hacking on those staves this winter lord willing. Black locust will for sure test your tillering skills, but made right it makes a fine self, or sinew backed wood bow. Good luck with yours.
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Those streaks are just part of the wood. I don’t think I’ve made a black locust bow without them.
Kyle
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I have had those streaks in a bunch of black locust staves too. Don't worry about them at all.
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Well, that's a load off my mind!
I got this stave for a pretty dang good price, $80 shipped to my door. I keep watching for this guy to post more for sale on Ebay, but have not seen him in a while. He goes by the name Othneil, I think. Nice guy to deal with.
The stave is roughed out using Sleek's calculations for a fast bow. Since he and his kid have set a few world records at the flight bow competition on the Bonneville Salt Flats, I am gonna go on record saying I anticipate decent performance if I can avoid the curse of the black locust frets.
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I just reduced a stave last night, and today of green black locust as in wet. :BB 21 percent moisture at present. One limb needed pulled a long ways to get it straight to the handle. I have a rachet strap on the limb, and will give it a click every couple days as it dries to get it lined up. Then on a form to dry. Streaks on the back ,and belly of the wood. 70 inch long bow.
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No guarantees, JW, but I once had a black locust bow, built by Curt Briskey, that had some dark streaks like this. I think it was just a natural color variation of the wood, not indicative of any damage. Hope yours is the same.