BL stave...

[Blaflair2]

 I would like to thank pat b for this stave of BL from toms stash I was told. This thing is hard as a rock. I've been chasing a ring for on and off 4 hrs. And I'm about a quarter of the way up. I'm about to use my belt sander. Rings are almost completely flat. So here's to hoping I don't mess this one up.

It's about 3" thick and 4" wide, a little twist but not too much to scare me.

[huisme]

I love it when I find rings like this, seems like just the right balance between compression/tension strength throughout the stave, especially if you trap the flat ones like this.

hint hint 

[soy]

that is one gorgeous stave

[blackhawk]

Don't be taking that thing to a belt sander to run a ring cus u lost your patience in trying to learn how to run a ring....you just need more practice is all....in the hands of the experienced a stave like that can be easily chased within ten minutes easy,and that's being lenient ....don't give up and try using power tools because a drawknife is actually a hundred times faster...we've all been in your shoes..the first attempt at a bow was with a 15 year old seasoned ossge stave with the sapwood still on and it had twist n knots and such(not a beginner stave at all),and it took me prob close to 13+ hours to chase a ring....I had no internet help,no one in person to teach,and one lil book...it was tedious and yes I lost my patience a few times.....it just takes practice and you'll have to go thru several+ staves to be more efficient at it and it will get better....I can now run a ring on a stave like that with no sapwood to remove in a few minutes easy

Nice stave 

[Blaflair2]

I was just kidding about the belt sander lol. But it's hard as a rock and it's cold out. Not a good mixture for my wrists

[Blaflair2]

And there's no way u could chase this ring in ten minutes.

[Blaflair2]

Also it has sapwood on it still, it's easy chasing the ring. Just hard getting the wood to cut. I sharpened my draw knife and everything. I work on it a bit then put it away. It'll get done. Somedsy

[Greenman1867]

Okay I checked the glossary, but no joy there.

I am going to take a shot in the dark, and guess that "chasing a ring" is trying to make the back of your stave one continious growth ring? Is that what is meant by chasing a ring?

[Blaflair2]

Yes. Cutting down to one continuous non violated ring.

[Badly Bent]

That is some sweet locust Blaflair. Yeah the sapwood is tough but you'll find once thats off ring chasing isn't all that difficult. Just take your time and have a good light source to help determine where your at at all times. That piece of black locust looks so good that you could make a heck of a bow out of it. Take your time shaping it, reducing the belly and tillering when you get to it and you'll have a killer bow.

Yes, You got it right Greenman.

[Buckeye Guy]

Don't be taking that thing to a belt sander to run a ring cus u lost your patience in trying to learn how to run a ring....you just need more practice is all....in the hands of the experienced a stave like that can be easily chased within ten minutes easy,and that's being lenient ....don't give up and try using power tools because a drawknife is actually a hundred times faster...we've all been in your shoes..the first attempt at a bow was with a 15 year old seasoned ossge stave with the sapwood still on and it had twist n knots and such(not a beginner stave at all),and it took me prob close to 13+ hours to chase a ring....I had no internet help,no one in person to teach,and one lil book...it was tedious and yes I lost my patience a few times.....it just takes practice and you'll have to go thru several+ staves to be more efficient at it and it will get better....I can now run a ring on a stave like that with no sapwood to remove in a few minutes easy

Nice stave 

Easy for you to say . these young wippersnappers anyway !

Guy

[Blaflair2]

The stave is 8 yrs or older pat said. I know it has a heck of a bow in it. Just trying to Knaw one out is some work! I plan on heat treating the snot out of the belly once it's time. Not sure what design I'm going for. It's 68" long. But I was thinking of a bendy handle with a handle build up like pearly posted recently. Something about feeling the bow working in your hands. It's going to be a nice flat bow. I wanna go simple but I also wanna go for it. Lol so final plans not there yet

[DuBois]

I'm no BL expert but that sure looks pretty so far. You are gonna have an excellent bow there someday I think  Keep up the good work man!

[Pappy]

Nice looking stave,and please take Blackhawks advice on the belt sander thing.
 Pappy

[blackhawk]

And there's no way u could chase this ring in ten minutes.

Wanna make a bet on that?  ...n there's s lot of guys on here who know me personally and have built bows with me,and I bet they wouldn't make that bet against me  ..call me cocky and arrogant,but I know I'm right