Harvested a Black Locust

[bigcountry]

Ok, TBB says black locust is the teacher of tillering.  So lets see what mother nature can do with a very interested student.  Well at least next year.  I cut down a black locust today and got 6 staves out of it.  3 are straight and nice, and 3 have a curve in them.

I sealled the ends with rustoleum.  Should I remove the bark to seal the sapwood? 

[koan]

Big, I would definitely remove the bark and seal, but dont depend on rustoleum...tried it, didnt work well at all...bugs really like black locust, specially if ya leave the bark on. Spray it down good with insecticide. Cheapest way to seal is with genaric school glue..$.50 a bottle! ....Brian

[Dano]

I'd do as Brian says, alot of work but well worth the labor.

[robbsbass]

Hey big country

I'm no expert either, far from it, but I have been a wood carver for many years. One of the best and cheapest woodsealers I know of and have used faithfully is parafin wax, melt it apply it to the end grain and forget about it

                  Robb

[bigcountry]

Big, I would definitely remove the bark and seal, but dont depend on rustoleum...tried it, didnt work well at all...bugs really like black locust, specially if ya leave the bark on. Spray it down good with insecticide. Cheapest way to seal is with genaric school glue..$.50 a bottle! ....Brian

Like elmers?

[cowboy]

Got pictures of the tree/staves? I love raw materials . I've tried shellac to seal the backs of a lot of staves - didn't have any luck, paraffin sounds likely. Cheap regular white glue of any sort works wonders.

[robbsbass]

Elmers is a white glue. Just ask your wife for some if she does any canning. Just kidding, but that is the stuff you use. Go to any store that has canning supplies, like mason jars etc. and you will be able to buy parafin wax. It comes in a box in four slabs, just melt one of them and dip the end of the stave in the wax and your done.

                                      Good luck
                                          Robb

[bigcountry]

Got pictures of the tree/staves? I love raw materials . I've tried shellac to seal the backs of a lot of staves - didn't have any luck, paraffin sounds likely. Cheap regular white glue of any sort works wonders.

[bigcountry]

Guys, think these are firewood?  Figured I could give them away to people who are gifted enough to tiller something like this, or cut to 60"

[Minuteman]

Wow. I'd try a better beginner's wood if it were me. I've let BL season for a year or more and then chased a ring. Hurt myself doin it too. Its some kinda tough lemme tell ya.
 Theres nothing wrong with a 60" bow.It'll probably wanna bend through the handle. I quit cutting locust, I found it to be much harder to tiller and much less able to handle my poor tillering abilities. Besides its harder than hickory, hard to work. My .02$

[bigcountry]

Wow. I'd try a better beginner's wood if it were me. I've let BL season for a year or more and then chased a ring. Hurt myself doin it too. Its some kinda tough lemme tell ya.
 Theres nothing wrong with a 60" bow.It'll probably wanna bend through the handle. I quit cutting locust, I found it to be much harder to tiller and much less able to handle my poor tillering abilities. Besides its harder than hickory, hard to work. My .02$

Well price was right.  Only a few gallons of sweat.

[The Burnt Hill Archer]

im looking to cut some locust in a couple weeks. so im followin allong and takin notes...

Phil

[sailordad]

  well ifn you want to get  rid of those,i'll take the one thats 4th from the left, is it about 2x4x66?

p.m. some details and i will pay for shipping ifn the size is right

i,ve been wanting to try b.l.,heck im just about tempted to cut the neighbors tree down to try it lol
                                      peace,
                                             tim

[cowboy]

Whalp, them are pretty knarly - the second picture i mean. From my meager experience with bl it works fairly easy - I've mostly worked with osage and hic. It steam bends really easy too. Now that I know what to look for I've spotted some groves down here - I'll be cuttin some before it's over . Thanks for the pics..

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, BL is a fine teacher. Go a little wider and a lot longer.  60 inches for  what draw? Jawge