Novice making honey locust bow

[Chippintuff]

This is the first time I have tried to make a bow of any kind. I am wondering how critical it is to chase a ring on honey locust. Also the log was too small to get any heart wood into the bow. Does that hurt it in any way? It is crooked and twisted, so I think it will be a good learning experience. After I get it reduced a little more, I'll try to use steam to straighten it. Any problems to be careful about there? You might wonder why I'm not using something better. Well, I don't expect to build a fantastic bow on my first try, so why not try this stave that was cut one year ago and kept stored in the garage (not climate controlled). Also it gives me multiple challenges. If it flops, I still learn something.

WA

[dylanholderman]

Some pics would help if you can get them 
I haven't personally used that wood but I've seen some builds with a sapwood back so I think you're alright  still it wouldn't hurt to wait for someone more experienced with that wood to chime in.

[RyanY]

I'm of the opinion that you should try and chase a perfect ring on any stave but that's me. I haven't personally worked with honey locust but I've heard it's light in density so make it as wide and long as possible to start.

[Badger]

  It should be good practice but don't be hard on yourself if it doesn't work out. Honey locust has a lot of issues when it comes to bow making even using a premium piece of wood.

[Chippintuff]

I just now read George Tsoukalas' bow making instruction page, and it looks like I was doomed from the start. The stave was not wide enough. I may still play with it some especially with straightening. It might be adequate to build a kid's bow. I have two very good staves, one osage and one hickory that were given to me a year ago, but I don't dare touch them till I have enough experience to make something that works. Thanks for the replies.

WA

[gutpile]

if you dont chase a ring ...it will fail unless you back it..expect some set...honey locust will make a bow...gut

[Dkincaid]

You might as well jump in with the staves you have. A good stave makes building a bow easier. If you break those there will be more to be had. I used to think the exact same way until someone pointed out that I was setting my self up by subconsciously being doomed from the start. With a good piece of wood comes confidence and motivation.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Start with good, proven bow wood. Starting with junk will only discourage you, and we don't need that

[bubby]

Dig into that hickory, you don't have to chaise a ring and it's a great beginner wood

[mwosborn]

I cut some honey locust about 5 years ago and quartered the log and sealed the ends.  It twisted and warped so bad that I cut it up and used it for firewood.  Too many other better woods to use.

[Joec123able]

5-6 years ago I made a bow from honey locust, killed my first couple carp with it which was great. It ended up breaking about 2 months after I made it while i was stringing it. I just peeled the bark and used that as the back. Never used the wood since.

[BowEd]

I'd grab the hickory too.Both osage and hickory are good tough woods.They can handle mistakes and still make a bow.They can also take more extreme designs to make a bow too.

[Springbuck]

Honey locust is ok wood.  Not great wood, but ok.  Useable.

A stave of mostly sapwood, from a sturdy sapling, with good density (for the wood), wide rings and a crowned back can be treated like other white woods.  Don't bother chasing a ring of heartwood.

HL takes set pretty easily, more than ash or most elms.  Make sure it's nice and dry.  Make a 2" wide limb at least, and at least as tall as your nose.  If you can't do that, use everything that you have as far as width and length.  Make a flatbow with about half the limb length parallel, flip the tips, and heat treat the belly.

It'll shoot if you do that, and it's not gonna be your last bow, anyway!  ;-)