Author Topic: Black Locust ?  (Read 2309 times)

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Offline DV IN MN

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Black Locust ?
« on: October 13, 2015, 06:16:26 pm »
How does Black Locust compare to Osage? Never made a bow with it, I will assume that you follow a growth ring just line Osage. I have some that has a growth ring of approx. 1/8 or a little more wide.

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2015, 07:40:37 pm »
it makes a great bow,, some suggest going a bit wider or longer than osage,, tiller has to be right on or it will fret,, yes follow growth ring,, :)

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2015, 08:19:08 pm »
I cut my bow making teeth on it. As usual, Brad has it absolutely correct. Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline wizardgoat

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2015, 08:40:03 pm »
Good bow wood, very snappy and very beautiful when it's all done up.
It's for sure not Osage though

riverrat

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2015, 08:58:02 pm »
it is my favorite bow wood. i like osage a lot. not a lot of it around here. but locust, bunches of it. so i like it. Tony

Offline DV IN MN

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2015, 09:32:10 pm »
From what I read if one had their druthers just stick with Osage if both are readily available. I have access to plenty of both. Just the Black Locus is located where extraction from the woods would be a whole lot less sweat and blood. 

Offline Badly Bent

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2015, 09:36:42 pm »
Great stuff if you can tiller without any frets. Personally I like it as as much as osage with the exception of the fretting issues, but when it works out at good tiller and without fretting it is gonna be a snappy bow.
Give it a shot and if the first couple don't work for you don't give up on it because when you do get a good bow from it you'll find it was worth the effort to learn the wood.
I ain't broke but I'm badly bent.

Offline huisme

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  • I'm Marc, but not that Marc.
Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2015, 01:25:23 am »
Its modulus of elasticity to specific gravity ratio is higher than osage's meaning it's stiffer per mass and will pull more weight with less wood but it frets easily, its belly is overpowered by by the strength of the back when chased to a clean ring. Keeping locust wider will make frets easier to avoid but I've made several 1" wide bows that still shoot great, the trick is in tillering it perfectly (it'll let you know if you fall short).

I like osage, it's easier to make into better designs, but I'd give up all the yellow wood in the world if I had to to keep my locust ;) >:D
50#@26"
Black locust. Black locust everywhere.
Mollegabets all day long.
Might as well make them short, save some wood to keep warm.

blackhawk

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Re: Black Locust ?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2015, 06:21:16 am »
Black locust makes my top five list and comes in about 3 or 4th favorite bow wood. Its amazing bend resistance makes it a very fast returning wood that zings an arrow. If i didnt have osage it wood prob be my most used wood. It will teach you how to tiller and tell you if you made a mistake tillering or design wise,or both.