Black Locust

[ranger 3]

Can a bow be made from a 57" black locust stave. I haven't made a bow from BL. Do you chase a ring or use the sap wood?

Thanks

[Pat B]

Heartwood is generally what you want to use with BL. Treat it just like osage but make it longer and wider.
  57" is short for a 28" draw. If you build it so it bends from tip to tip, through the handle it may work out for you with good tillering. Locust it susceptable to fretting if things are not perfect and with this short of a bow, even more so.
  I'm working on a 65"t/t Eastern Woodland style locust bow now. I'm taking it very slowly and exercising the wood well between wood removal sessions because I have a bad history with locust. I cut my bow building teeth on locust and it never failed to disappoint me. I'm sure it was me because I know quite a few bowyers that have successfully built BL bows. George Tsoukalas is one noted bowyer that successfully builds BL bows and has for years.

[hova]

everything i have seen says take the sapwood off. i have a black locust propeller for the bow  swap that will be taken down a few rings...


-hov

[ranger 3]

Thanks, Pat it would be a 26" draw

[ALW]

I made a 65" long BL bow tillered to 29".  It is 1 3/4" wide to just past midlimb.  I believe the bow is a bit over built and I left the tips too thick and wide so it has a bit of handshock.  But it shoots and I've shot hundreds of arrows through it with no signs of fretting.  I'd say you can build a bow for your draw from a stave of that length, even with a stiff handle if you have the width.  

But, listen to the others on here like Pat B.  They have much more experience than me and will give you good advice.  Just don't go too narrow and tiller slowly.  You might want to flip the tips a bit too to help some with string angle.

Aaron