Black locust bow....which design ?

[Sparrow]

Hey guys    I have finally arrived at a time of year I can start building another bow.I've got a 72" nice dry piece of black locust.I want a 60 lb. @ 28" that will stand up to my humid southeast Alaska environment. I am going to want to really seal this thing up.I would like a selfbow, unbacked. What do you think ? Any comments welcomed.  Frank

[George Tsoukalas]

Most of the BL bows I built have been full width to just past mid limb. I've done some pyramid bows too. I like BL around 2 inches wide  and about 66 inches long for a 26 inch draw. Jawge

[snedeker]

66" will cover your 28" draw need. I like a little narrower than george. 1 5/8

Dave

[richpierce]

If you're very experienced you can make a BL flat-bellied bow 2" wide.  The challenge is its a strong wood so then the limbs are thin.  And it's possible for a beginner to take a little too much off.  If you make it that wide to start, maybe you can successfully tiller by narrowing it.  I learned I must go slowly taking wood off the belly when tillering any bow that wide or suddenly it becomes a 40# bow.

You will like black locust, it's a very tough springy wood.

[Sparrow]

 Thanks for the feedback fella's.I been thinking along those lines and you are making that an easy decision to make. Help appreciated !     Frank

[Hillbilly]

My two favorite designs for locust are either a stiff-handled flatbow about 66"-67" long, 1 5/8"-1 3/4" wide fades to midlimb tapering to 3/8" nocks, or a Cherokee/Eastern Woodlands design about the same length, slightly bending handle, 1 1/4" wide to a bit past midlimb tapering to about 5/8" nocks. 

[Sparrow]

Hillbilly  The stiff handled flatbow tapered down to narrow tips sounds like just the ticket. I will get to start work on it in a week or so.we are busy putting in supplies for the winter up here.Fish,berries,venison,etc....Freezing and canning. Thanks for the input.  Frank