Black Locust

[Lee Lobbestael]

Hey guys! Any body here ever made a self bow with black locust? Anything I should know about it before I start?

[Dave Bowers]

I personally haven't, but I have seen several bow made from black locust.

Good luck to you!

[Osagetree]

It's a good wood for selfbows. You'll find large growth rings that are easy to follow. I'd go 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" wide at the fades to about mid limb and then tapper to somewhere around 1/2" tips. Tillering is crital as black locust will fret fairly easily.

Here's one I did some years back,,, black locust and blacksnake skin with rivercane arrows.
 
 
 
 

[Dan Landis]

I made one once from a BL sapling about 1-1/4" dia.  It is 65"  ntn and pulls 60# at 28" and shoots pretty good.  This was actually my first shooter, probably would have taken less set if I had more experience at tillering.  I've been looking for a good BL stave to cut so I can make one from a stave.  Keep us posted of your progress.  Dan

[Pat B]

I cut my bow building teeth on black locust. I could buy locust fence rails for $5 each. I screwed up lots of good locust. My problem not the woods.
  George Tsoukalas loves locust and makes great bows with it. Check out his website.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Thanks guys!Thats a beautiful bow osage! Does heat treating the belly work on bl to help eliminate fretting?

[Pat B]

I would think that locust would fair well with heat treating the belly. It sure would help the compression.
  I have heard that locust is the strongest wood in compression strength of all the NA hardwoods. It is brittle and that is where the fretting comes in.

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

My first bows were Black Locust.  It is nice to work with and will make a nice bow.  Just beware of the splinters. They fester!

[JustinNC]

Getting ready to. Stumbled on a black locust blown over, still intact from last week's tornado. Fellow said I could have it all. Going to cut what I can for staves and the rest for fire wood. Will likely be my first bow other than maybe a couple board bows (until I get one that holds together). Would start with hickory, but I'll take what the good Lord gives me.