Author Topic: 50" Black Locust D bow  (Read 8621 times)

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Offline John K

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50" Black Locust D bow
« on: March 24, 2009, 11:31:33 am »
This is one i just started on. First time working with Black Locust....I have to say i really like the looks of the grain in this stuff !
First pic is of the stave.


Next is unbraced.


This one is 40# @ 13" i'm looking for about 40-45 @ 24" so i have some scraping to do yet  :D


and a couple pics of the tip, it had some worm damage, but i hope it holds together, i might fill it with sawdust and glue yet ?




Just thought i would share.  :)
The only way to fail is to never start !

Offline Pat B

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2009, 11:57:49 am »
Nicely done, John. Tiller looks good
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pappy

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2009, 12:02:10 pm »
Looking good so far.Keep us posted.
       Pappy
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Offline John K

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2009, 12:09:41 pm »
Thanks guys, I hope to get some more done tonight on it. I think i might try and flip the tips on this one too !
The only way to fail is to never start !

Offline DanaM

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2009, 12:15:40 pm »
looks good John, I really like the short D bows, 45#@24" is perfect for me :) Did ya know I have a B.Day coming up ::)
"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

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Offline John K

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2009, 12:31:57 pm »
I'll keep that in mind Dana  :D
The only way to fail is to never start !

Shooter_G22

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2009, 12:34:17 am »
hey John K,

   what is the shortest bow you ever made for a 27" draw???


Offline mullet

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2009, 12:38:02 am »
  Nice looking bow, John. You should be alright with the worm hole, except for cosmetics.
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Offline El Destructo

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2009, 01:37:45 am »
Looking Good John....I really like the D Bows...heck all N.A Bows to be precise!!! Also I would make sure keep an eye on the center and get some more bend in the Mid Limb area....JMO...not that I know diddily squat!!! I too like Locust....nice color and big rings!!
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Offline John K

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2009, 02:51:19 pm »
Shooter, I just started messing with these short bows. 66" is the shortest for me with a 27" draw.

Thanks Eddie, It should give it a little character.

Thanks Mike, I have a guy about an hour from me, that said i can cut all i want out of his fron yard ! I'm going to take him up on that offer.  ;D

Now for the bad news.....I was working on this bow last night. I had it pulled to about 16" when i hear this popping noise. I know that's not good. So i unstring it and check it out. Here on the back a splinter started to open up. I check it out and it seems it's just in the sap wood. ( i didn't remove all the sap wood ) So i figure i can take it down to a heart wood ring. Well when i get done doing that, one limb is way weaker than the other. I work to bring that strong limb to bend with the weak limb and when i'm done i'm left with a 25# bow @ 25". Well at least i saved it.  :D

braced at 5"


full draw


I did learn some good lessons on this bow !  ;D
The only way to fail is to never start !

Offline OldBow

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2009, 04:01:39 pm »
I'm a great admirer of short bows. Dealing with that high string angle without breaking the bow is a challenge not many accomplish. I wrote an article about short bows for PA but they didn't publish it.
Got your nifty bow bookmarked for March Self BOM, too.
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Offline Jesse

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2009, 04:04:38 pm »
Good job saving it John. Now you got an excuse to start another.
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline John K

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2009, 04:21:10 pm »
Thanks Don and Jesse ! I already have another in the works or should i say a few in the works  ::)  ;D

The good thing is, my new PA mag showed up yesterday, and in it is a great article about shooting skinny arrows out of a 25# bow  :D  Need to get me some 1/4" dowels !  :)
The only way to fail is to never start !

Offline uwe

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #13 on: March 29, 2009, 04:25:24 pm »
Good work John, but what about chrysalls on the belly? I don`t know if they appear with these D- bows. I`ve found them on longer flatbows as well on a sinewbacked recurved bow which I`ve made years ago. So locust is not my favoutite bowwood.

Offline Pappy

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Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2009, 07:51:23 am »
Nice save,some kid will love it. :)
   Pappy
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