Black locust for a board bow

[Deer Slayr]

My local lumber place has some black locust boards. And I was wondering how good this wood would be compared to hickory or red oak as a board bow. Thanks Brandon A.

[bigcountry]

You have to have a single growth ring on BL.  So a board bow needs to be backed with a hickory strip or very thin bamboo.  

I never never done it, but this is what I have read.  So take it for what its worth.

[manfromthepast]

Make sure your backing is thin.  BL is prone to fretting and compression set if the backing is too thick or the tiller is off. If you are not experienced, Oak or Hickory would be easier to get a "shooter" out of.  If you are experienced, and it is a good piece of BL, it should yield a bow at least as good, if not better than Oak and Hickory of the same design.  That being said, I've made a lot of BL selfbows, but not board bows.  That is just my $.02 from having worked a lot with that particular wood.

[Deer Slayr]

Thanks Guys

[George Tsoukalas]

BL does better with a heartwood back so I don;t know how it would do as a board. Try it. Look for a board that is straight grained. Jawge