Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: John K on March 24, 2009, 11:31:33 am

Title: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on March 24, 2009, 11:31:33 am

This is one i just started on. First time working with Black Locust....I have to say i really like the looks of the grain in this stuff !
First pic is of the stave.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stave.jpg)

Next is unbraced.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/UNBRACED.jpg)

This one is 40# @ 13" i'm looking for about 40-45 @ 24" so i have some scraping to do yet  :D
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/4013inches.jpg)

and a couple pics of the tip, it had some worm damage, but i hope it holds together, i might fill it with sawdust and glue yet ?
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/tip-1.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/holeintip.jpg)

Just thought i would share.  :)

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: Pat B on March 24, 2009, 11:57:49 am

Nicely done, John. Tiller looks good

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: Pappy on March 24, 2009, 12:02:10 pm

Looking good so far.Keep us posted.
       Pappy

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on March 24, 2009, 12:09:41 pm

Thanks guys, I hope to get some more done tonight on it. I think i might try and flip the tips on this one too !

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: DanaM on March 24, 2009, 12:15:40 pm

looks good John, I really like the short D bows, 45#@24" is perfect for me :) Did ya know I have a B.Day coming up ::)

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on March 24, 2009, 12:31:57 pm

I'll keep that in mind Dana  :D

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: Shooter_G22 on March 25, 2009, 12:34:17 am

hey John K,

   what is the shortest bow you ever made for a 27" draw???

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: mullet on March 25, 2009, 12:38:02 am

  Nice looking bow, John. You should be alright with the worm hole, except for cosmetics.

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: El Destructo on March 25, 2009, 01:37:45 am

Looking Good John....I really like the D Bows...heck all N.A Bows to be precise!!! Also I would make sure keep an eye on the center and get some more bend in the Mid Limb area....JMO...not that I know diddily squat!!! I too like Locust....nice color and big rings!!

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on March 25, 2009, 02:51:19 pm

Shooter, I just started messing with these short bows. 66" is the shortest for me with a 27" draw.

Thanks Eddie, It should give it a little character.

Thanks Mike, I have a guy about an hour from me, that said i can cut all i want out of his fron yard ! I'm going to take him up on that offer.  ;D

Now for the bad news.....I was working on this bow last night. I had it pulled to about 16" when i hear this popping noise. I know that's not good. So i unstring it and check it out. Here on the back a splinter started to open up. I check it out and it seems it's just in the sap wood. ( i didn't remove all the sap wood ) So i figure i can take it down to a heart wood ring. Well when i get done doing that, one limb is way weaker than the other. I work to bring that strong limb to bend with the weak limb and when i'm done i'm left with a 25# bow @ 25". Well at least i saved it.  :D

braced at 5"
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/5inchbrace.jpg)

full draw
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/fulldraw25at25.jpg)

I did learn some good lessons on this bow !  ;D

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: OldBow on March 25, 2009, 04:01:39 pm

I'm a great admirer of short bows. Dealing with that high string angle without breaking the bow is a challenge not many accomplish. I wrote an article about short bows for PA but they didn't publish it.
Got your nifty bow bookmarked for March Self BOM, too.

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: Jesse on March 25, 2009, 04:04:38 pm

Good job saving it John. Now you got an excuse to start another.

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on March 25, 2009, 04:21:10 pm

Thanks Don and Jesse ! I already have another in the works or should i say a few in the works  ::)  ;D

The good thing is, my new PA mag showed up yesterday, and in it is a great article about shooting skinny arrows out of a 25# bow  :D  Need to get me some 1/4" dowels !  :)

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: uwe on March 29, 2009, 04:25:24 pm

Good work John, but what about chrysalls on the belly? I don`t know if they appear with these D- bows. I`ve found them on longer flatbows as well on a sinewbacked recurved bow which I`ve made years ago. So locust is not my favoutite bowwood.

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: Pappy on March 30, 2009, 07:51:23 am

Nice save,some kid will love it. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: El Destructo on March 30, 2009, 07:59:59 am

Nice one John....now next time ......NIX the sap Wood right off....and you won't have to worry as much about a failure!!

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on March 30, 2009, 11:16:31 am

Thanks Mike ! I hear ya about the sap wood !!

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 30, 2009, 03:05:37 pm

Very nice. Jawge

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: Dingleberry on April 01, 2009, 10:24:48 am

Very nice.  My favorite bow is a black locust "D".  Mine is still shooting great with hardly any string follow but I'm starting to see some frets.
Good luck.

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: african man on April 01, 2009, 11:53:55 am

Nice one there  :D I must say I like B.L and have had only success with it ...so far...
Chris

Title: Re: 50" Black Locust D bow
Post by: John K on April 01, 2009, 03:02:35 pm

Thanks Jawge, Dingelberry, and African man. I'm looking forward to working more with this wood !