update on my black locust

[wvbowhntr]

Posted asking for help chasing a ring the other day  just thought i would update you all.  first thanks for the help.  I finally chased a good ring today then roughed out the bow.  i wanted to go 2 in. at the fades but not enough wood there so went with a little over 1.5 in. think it will still work out.  going for 66in. ttt  and around 55@27in.  any advice is welcome and appriciated thanks,
                                                                                          Greg

[Jim Davis]

I think you might either come short of 55# or end up with a lot of set or chrysaling.

In the future, you can make the bow wide at the fades even if the crown comes down to within a 1/4" of the belly surface. Wood is 3 or 4 times stronger in tension than compression, so a crowned back that is thin on the edges is usually fine.

I have made some good bows of black locust, but I learned that the wood needs lots of belly width to handle the compression stresses.

Jim Davis

[huisme]

I think you're good if you take it slow and temper the belly- I'd also add up to two inches of reflex and expect to hold half an inch at those stats if its good locust. Crown is your friend, and trapping a flat back always helps the belly.

[Jared C]

This is really off topic but I made a knife handle out of black locust before and while sanding it it gave off a terrible smell. Have you noticed anything like that while working on your bow?

[wvbowhntr]

Haven't noticed any bad smell. Got it down to where I need to do some straightening but heat gun doesn't work so I'm thinking about trying steam

[Springbuck]

I love locust and use it a lot. It can smell.  I wouldn't call it AWEFUL, but esp if you are sawing it or sanding, if you get it hot enough to start scortching or anything, it smells.

[huisme]

Yep, can happen. If you leave a stave in the rain and it's hot the Jett day and you peal the bark you will have smelled locust's worst