Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: wvbowhntr on October 24, 2014, 06:01:12 pm
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hey guys haven't been around for a while. i haven't built a bow in almost two years, but i got the itch today and pulled out a black locust stave i cut probably three years ago. still had the bark on so i got my draw knives and went to work but i had a few problems when taking off the last ring of sapwood i got a tearout that went through the first few rings of heart wood so i had to go down a few more rings. bit now im having trouble telling were one ring ends and another begins. ive done osage and didn't have a problem but it seems a little harder to tell on bl. this stave is a little crooked and has a bad twist how does locust heat bend?
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You can see growth rings better in natural light the best. I like to scrape my sides clean sometimes, so I can see the actual layers.
Also, I took me a while to figure this out, work your way UP the stave when your chasing a ring, you have way less or a chance to catch a ring and have a tear out.
I've heard BL bends well with any heat, but that is a pretty huge dog leg!
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A few scrapes wherever you think you're at is always helpful for finding that early ring. This might help ;)
http://m.imgur.com/a/f0JlS (http://m.imgur.com/a/f0JlS)
I've found bl bends very easily with steam and more permanently with dry heat. Really take it slow when dry or it'll take any opportunity to crack. I also just about always heat treat locust.
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Some black locust can be very hard to follow, you can feel it a little but not as easily as osage. You really can't go by color because it keeps changing. Use the best light you can get. I have had better luck with artificial light indoors with some I have worked.