blacklocust split

[Knawbone]

Hi Guys, Can anyone give me dos and don'ts for working a black locust split. Sure would appreciate any words of wisdom from more experianced than I.        

[okie64]

I've got 2 locust staves sittin in my shop that I chased down to good rings but never have done anything else with them. I've heard it frets really easy, kinda why I havent tried to make a bow out of them yet. Figured I'd wait till I had more experience or run out of osage, whichever comes first. I'm sure someone whos got more experience will help you out here.

[Pat B]

Black locust frets easily but only with bad tillering. I know from many years of screwing up good black locust.   If you take your time and make your bow long and wide you should be able to make a very nice bow. For a beginner go 68" long, 1 3/4" to 2" at the fades and out to mid limb and a straight taper to 1/2" tips(for now). Keep the belly flat and don't overstress while tillering.

[Osagetree]

If I don't find some osage to cut, I'll be cutting some BL before winter is over. I did have one fret and hinge but like PatB says, it was poor tillering on my part!!

[Knawbone]

Hey GUYs, I really appreciate the help, Maybe I better sit on this BL split until I learn alittle more about the whole process. I'm not even sure what fret means

[hova]

id let your locust season a while , and try a board bow. it will teach you volumes just getting everything set up and all the bugs worked out.


good luck , check out 4ests build along and sam harpers site.


theres also a whole encyclopedia on here...


-hov

[Knawbone]

Hey GUYs, I really appreciate the help, Maybe I better sit on this BL split until I learn alittle more about the whole process. I'm not even sure what fret means

[okie64]

Frets are compression fractures that show up on the belly. They usually look like little cracks that run across the belly. Some woods fret really easy. You might do like Hova said and start out with a board bow. Get yourself a good hickory board with straight grain and ask all the questions you want on here.

[Knawbone]

Thanks again all, I'm starting a white ash self bow, and plain to start an osage plank(kit) bow when the weather warms up a little.I'll have to play with some hickory also as I have some on my land.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A good start is half done

[Mark Smeltzer]

I have had great luck with BL, I think the quality can vary greatly. The BL I have had is right up there with Osage. But every thing the guys have said above is good advice.

Mark

[Knawbone]

I won't tackle it untill I feel I know what I'm doing thats the way I am. Hoping to get a 66" bow.   Should I keep the back flat or radioused

[Pat B]

Is locust readily available to you?
   Locust was my main bow wood for years because I could buy locust fence posts and rails for $2 to $4 each. That was before I learned how to tiller...and I screwed up lots of primo locust! If it is available to you I'd say go for it. It will make a better bow builder out of you! If you screw up, it will let you know. But, if you get it bending well you will be pleased with your new locust bow.  d;^)

[Knawbone]

No Pat locust isn't readily available to me, but a patch of it about 1/4 to 1/2 acre grew along a small creek next to the house I grew up in. I used to know the owner of that land, It would be interesting To find out about it if I Like the wood. Not sure if it was black or honey or both but it would be pretty good size by now seeing that was some 35 years ago. I only live about an hour away from the site. If I ever do get some and it's reasonably priced I'll let you know if your interested. thanks for your comments, Dave

[Knawbone]

Thank you too Mark, your comments were helpfull