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Author Topic: My first black locust bow  (Read 3785 times)

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Offline Swampman

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My first black locust bow
« on: February 28, 2015, 07:13:02 pm »
Here is my first bow made from black locust.  Here are the details:

60 inches tip to tip with a 4 inch stiff handle and 1 1/2 inch fades
I used Purple Heart for the tip overlays
Thin black garment leather on the handle
The bow is approximately 65 pounds at 27 inches (my scale only goes to 55)
I used rub on poly for the finish
Floppy arrow rest
String is 10 strand b-50 with yarn string silencers
It throws an arrow with authority
I ended up with 1 inch of string follow right after unstringing and drops down to 1/2 inch after 30 minutes.
 


















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Offline Swampman

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2015, 07:13:41 pm »
I forgot to say, tiller critique is welcomed. 

Also the bow is 1 1/2 inches wide for most of the length.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2015, 07:23:25 pm by Swampman »
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Offline Danzn Bar

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2015, 07:37:54 pm »
Nice looking bow,  I've never worked BL.
DBar
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2015, 09:26:45 pm »
Stout stick of locust. Id say you tiller looks just fine, unbraced looks nice to.
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Offline Badly Bent

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2015, 11:48:15 pm »
Looks good Swampman. Heck of a lot of draw weight, must shoot pretty fast. Will you be making more black locust bows now that you tried it? In my book it rates right up there with osage if you can keep it from fretting on ya. Osage gets the nod only because it is easier to manipulate, a little more elastic and is not prone to chrysals like some black locust can be.
Nice job getting a shooter on your first go with it.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2015, 12:40:16 am »
Yes I do plan on more bows out of black locust.  I have quite a few more staves cut back in 2009 and I have more trees I will be cutting this year.  It makes a nice shooting bow, that is for sure.  I had planned a 55 pound bow for this one and then heat treated the belly.  It seemed to work out well at its current weight so I left it.  So far I see no frets and I have shot at least 200 arrows through it.  I also drew it on my tillering tree 100 times before ever shooting it.  I hope it stays that way.  Thanks for looking.
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Offline Peacebow_Coos

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2015, 02:58:31 am »
Nice work Swampman, I really like the color contrast of the locust and purple heart.  Tiller looks pretty good, if anything I'd say the outer thirds could do a little more.  When it works it works though, and that looks like it'll spit an arrow good.
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Offline TRACY

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2015, 09:49:02 am »
Very nice bow! Tiller looks great and low set



Tracy
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Offline Sidewinder

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2015, 11:15:43 am »
Nice BL bow. I have acouple staves of it bit havent gotten around to it yet. I bet it does shoot with authority.
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Offline JonW

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2015, 11:21:07 am »
Nice looking bow man. Sounds like you got it figured out. The bow looks to be working like it should.
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Offline alcot

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2015, 12:43:57 pm »
Well that sure turned out nice Mike, an inspiration for its "sister" bow that's gonna get its long string this week.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: My first black locust bow
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2015, 08:23:30 pm »
Al, I am looking forward to seeing this bows "sister"

Quote from: Peacebow_Coos on March 01, 2015, 02:58:31 am
Nice work Swampman, I really like the color contrast of the locust and purple heart.  Tiller looks pretty good, if anything I'd say the outer thirds could do a little more.  When it works it works though, and that looks like it'll spit an arrow good.

Peacebow, I think you are right that the outer third could do a little more.  The little set I have is in the outer third.  Thanks.
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