Thinking about making myself a Seflbow

[LeeBishop]

At the farm we have a lot of black locust trees that we try and keep cut down from around trails and roads so we don't get blinded on an ATV or  flat tire.

Had anyone made a selfbow out of one of those trees?

I have read that it's one of the most dense hardwoods in America and I'm wondering if it will be good for making a selfbow.

If I remember correctly though, they have pretty small growth rings. So, it may be a little harder following a ring down the length of the bow.

Thoughts?  I haven't run across any Osage trees with their big fruit, but I think they grow a little more South in the mountain range. I just haven't seen any around our property.

[John Scifres]

I have seen many black locust bows.  You should go to the Bowyers Bench Forum.  Lot's of info there.

[ron w]

You should go for it....it's fun!

[JamesKerr]

I have never completed a self bow as they all broke on me but my friend has made several from black locust.

[razorback]

What John said. Come visit the Bowyers Bench. So much great info and help, your head will spin.

[John Scifres]

Just is case you've never seen it:    The Bowyer\\'s Bench Forum  

I just did a search for "locust" in the title of threads on the Bowyer's Bench and came up with a lot of hits.

[Jack Skinner]

Also the Bent Stick excellant book on making bows with white woods. Help me a lot in the early days.

[sweeney3]

Black locust was a preferd bow of some woodland tribes.  Makes a fine bow.  Get ahold of the Traditional Bowyers Bible series and start chewing.  Good times ahead.  

Make sure you're looking at black locust rather than honey locust though.  Makes a better bow, plus the whole thorn thing.

[LeeBishop]

Originally posted by sweeney3:
Black locust was a preferd bow of some woodland tribes.  Makes a fine bow.  Get ahold of the Traditional Bowyers Bible series and start chewing.  Good times ahead.  

Make sure you're looking at black locust rather than honey locust though.  Makes a better bow, plus the whole thorn thing.

Yeah, I'm certain that they are black locust. We don't have honey locust there at the farm. They are nice and thorny and a pain to have around.

My ad obsesses about cutting them down if he finds them. I don't mind them being around if they are off in the woods because they drop the seed pods that deer munch on.

[Thumper Dunker]

Go for it and good luck.Were going to need pictures of your bould along.

[LeeBishop]

I grew up making furniture and odds and ends with my grandfather, so I think I can tackle a bow.

I just need to figure out how long it will be. I guess I will need to find a few tools like a weigh gauge to measure the pull force while tillering.  I'm going to try and make it around 50-55lbs.

[kctreeman]

Black locust has small thorns and small seed pods. I think your looking at honey locust with long thorns and large seed pods.  Check out arborday.com.  I may be able hook you up with osage if you pm me.
John

[LeeBishop]

Originally posted by kctreeman:
Black locust has small thorns and small seed pods. I think your looking at honey locust with long thorns and large seed pods.  Check out arborday.com.  I may be able hook you up with osage if you pm me.
John

They may both grow there. I know that I have seen black locust there in the valley at the farm.

There aren't any good references online.

[LeeBishop]

Can you make a bow from honey locust too? Is it hard enough?

[frank bullitt]

Yes! Black locust, has a thick furrowed bark, small thorns on the limbs!

Honey locust, has smooth, dark grey bark, large clusters of BIG thorns, on the trunk, and big foot long seed pods!

Should be no problem, identifying, this time of year!

[LeeBishop]

Originally posted by frank bullitt:
Yes! Black locust, has a thick furrowed bark, small thorns on the limbs!

Honey locust, has smooth, dark grey bark, large clusters of BIG thorns, on the trunk, and big foot long seed pods!

Should be no problem, identifying, this time of year!

Yeah, I think they both grow there then. I have seen some with thorns and rough bark and others with smooth/bubbly bark.

The bubbly barked (honey locust) grow more near the watersheds and river. I was looking at one on an island we have in the river and I think it will be perfect. It had some straight sections that I think are long enough for a bow.

[ranger 3]

There is also a thorn less Honey Locust I have one in my yard that I planted.

[Pat B]

The thornless honey locust is a hybrid developed for the nursery/landscape trade.  Both black locust and honey locust make good bows.
  Check out George Tsoukalas' site. George has made many black locust bows.

[LeeBishop]

Can I cut a centered shelf on a selfbow or are you supposed to keep it solid like an old-school longbow with a leather wrap?  I'd like a small shelf and cut in a relief for it.

[jhg]

Check out the article "From Wych Elm to Carbon" in the Oct/Nov issue of TBM. Very cool self bow the guy made from hickory. Neat limb profile.

Honey Locust is very dense and very heavy.  Check resistant wood though. Interwoven grain that is much like elm in that regard- hard to split. Thats all I know about it - not if its suitable for a stave.

Joshua