Black Locust

[hunting badger]

My buddy from Arkansas give me a black locust stave. Do you leave the sap wood on and use the outside wood layer as the back or do you take it down to the heartwood and follow the ring like Osage?
I live in Alaska so I don't know how to treat this wood.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Chase a heart wood ring, leave it wide, and heat treat to a light purple/ black on the belly once you first brace before pulling very far. And expect the limbs to get rather thin for the poundage. I’m starting to settle in on 1 3/4” wide limbs for the 50-55# area, 1 5/8” for the 40-45# area. and 2” wide for 55-65#. Hope that helps.

Kyle

[Pat B]

Sounds like good, sound advise to me.
 Go slow and don't over stress the bow while building it.

[hunting badger]

Thanks for the advice guys! I appreciate it!

[yard dog]

Chase a heartwood ring... Black locust is samazing bow wood !!!

[Tedd]

The belly fractures easier than osage. Make the bow a little longer than you might want to. I think a flat belly is better than a rounded belly?? I made about a dozen using BL, but it's been a long time since I made one. They shoot fast and are lighter weight than osage.
Tedd

[Roy from Pa]

BL makes a pretty bow.

I can not add any more advice than above.

I've never had any belly fractures. I made them 1 3/4 wide also.

[Pat B]

Black lends itself well to belly tempering which could help prevent fretting.