Bending locust

[JustinNC]

I tried the search function as usual before I ask a question, but this one has me wondering. How well does black locust hold a bend. Does it benefit at all from putting a little recurve in it? Not sure why, but I love the look of those recurved self bows...........if they're still considered a selfbow after you put a recurve in it. Just brainstorming while my wood dries.

[nugget]

It should take a bend. The biggest problem I have had out of locust is chrysallis on the belly from tillering to fast. I have heat straightened locust a bunch of times. Never tried to put recurve in it.

[JustinNC]

Thanks Nugget. Just thinking out loud. Being as I'm new to the game, I should just worry about getting one made successfully, let alone something not normal. I've read locust is hard enough to deal with, without doing something else to it.

[half eye]

Hey Justin,
      The shape dont make any difference in weather or not it's a self bow, cant say much on the bending part cause I dont use dry heat to do it.....but most everything else bends, at least OK, with steam. Ya ought to make what ya like the looks of, dont matter if ya built 0 or a hundred of 'em. Makin what YOU like will keep your interest up and make you want to do good on it. JMO
rich

[wundabred]

locust bends well with dry heat.  haven't tried steam. 

a selfbow is a bow without a backing, regardless of whether it is recurved or what have you. 

I have had good success by clamping the locust in the position i want it to hold, and THEN applying the heat. 

[JustinNC]

will it hold the bend? seems like I remember reading that if hickory is recurved, it will straighten back out

[Pappy]

It will hold most of it, not all because it is wood and there will be some give in.I always go a little more than I want and it usually works out pretty good.I have never really had that problem with Hickory and I have done a lot of them.
   Pappy

[JustinNC]

Pappy I never did do well in school in reading comprehension

[wundabred]

it will hold.  if you are worried about springback, just overdo the bend a bit, and if it relaxes, it will still have a good bend

[half eye]

Hey Justin,
      Awhile back Ken75 sent me a hickory short bow with recurved tips, I dont know what he started them out like but they are way stiff now and aint changed a lick since I got the darned thing. I shoot it a LOT.
rich

[George Tsoukalas]

For your first, I would consider just making a simple flatbow. Info on my site. Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/