Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DC on April 19, 2018, 01:14:51 pm

Title: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 19, 2018, 01:14:51 pm
This is the bow I was working on here http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,63176.0.html
It just didn't want to stay in the corner. It was originally a Hard Maple backed BL sapling billets. It was made from scraps I had kicking around. 59" ttt measured directly and 62" NTN following the curves. About 15 degrees deflex glued into the handle and ends up with 1" reflex. After I messed up with the tiller I ground the belly down and scrounged up the last piece of BL I had to make belly lams. I could only get one sapwood lam and one with about 30% heartwood. Steamed them a bit to match the fades and glued it up. I tried to put a little Perry in it like a did the first time but it didn't hold much. It's 44# @26", a bit heavy for me, but I'll see if I can toughen up a bit before I scrape it down. It shoots in the high 170's with a couple in the very low 180's. That was with about 9gpp, the closest arrow to 10. I don't know how BL sapwood is for belly wood but I guess I'll find out. Anyway, it shoots nice for the dogs breakfast that it is and we'll see how it lasts.
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 19, 2018, 01:16:09 pm
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Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 19, 2018, 01:17:30 pm
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Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 19, 2018, 01:18:36 pm
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Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on April 19, 2018, 02:14:08 pm
Looks good, Don.
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: bjrogg on April 19, 2018, 02:31:11 pm
Looks really nice DC. I remember that one.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Bayou Ben on April 19, 2018, 02:40:55 pm
 Very nice DC!  Good fix on the belly lam, and some good performance numbers.   
And if you don't mind, I'm interested in what radius you used for your recurve?  That's exactly the curve I'm looking for on my next build.
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Springbuck on April 19, 2018, 03:45:41 pm
As a man familiar with many a "dogs breakfast", that's one of the nicest breakfast's I've ever seen. 

Looks really good, actually.   Tiller's great and you hit a decent weight. 

 MY few experiences with BL sapwood have me surprised you even got it tillered, so you are way ahead of me.  I assume some set would be inevitable, but the profile looks very nice!  The strip of belly heartwood looks very cool.

 Every time I used BL sapwood at all, it just crumpled like a card house with any real bending.  Nice job. 
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 19, 2018, 05:21:00 pm
Thanks guys. Recurves are 1 i/2" radius. I'm kind of waiting for the chrysals to appear. I make so many bows that I don't shoot individuals that much. Maybe it will last. It actually cam in well above my weight, I'm old so I shoot for about 38# now. I shot it a bunch this morning and knew it was a bit heavy but I was surprised how much. I was managing well enough once I got warmed up. I'll leave it for a bit. I think the best move I made was copying Marc's bows. The last few have been fast and nice to shoot. Thanks Marc :)
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: BowEd on April 19, 2018, 05:50:05 pm
Looks very good Don.Way to hang in there again on this bow.
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: upstatenybowyer on April 19, 2018, 08:17:01 pm
Like Ed said, way to persevere! Beautiful work.  :)
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: leonwood on April 20, 2018, 05:55:09 am
You cooked that up really nice ;D Looks pretty too with the heart/sap on the belly. Hope it lasts!
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: burchett.donald on April 20, 2018, 06:37:31 am
 Excellent bend Don...
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Pappy on April 20, 2018, 07:17:11 am
That's a beauty for sure, Nice work. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Parnell on April 20, 2018, 07:25:30 am
Looks like an efficient design.  I'm wanting to take on a similar type project coming up.  Nice one!
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Aaron H on April 20, 2018, 09:11:42 am
From the looks of it, I would not dispute those numbers at all. It just looks like a performer.  Nice glue lines too
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 20, 2018, 09:25:30 am
Thanks a lot guys. We've supposedly got a week of nice weather starting tomorrow so I can shoot it a bunch and see how it lasts. With the deflex I don't think there's as much strain. Hopefully I'm right. If not I'll use better wood next time.
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: shofu on April 20, 2018, 09:49:52 am
Nice one Don! I have some BL for you
Cheers,
George
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: DC on April 20, 2018, 09:56:22 am
George! Great to hear from you. More BL sounds good. I really like the look of the wood and it works very nice.
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Marc St Louis on April 20, 2018, 07:41:30 pm
Thanks guys. Recurves are 1 i/2" radius. I'm kind of waiting for the chrysals to appear. I make so many bows that I don't shoot individuals that much. Maybe it will last. It actually cam in well above my weight, I'm old so I shoot for about 38# now. I shot it a bunch this morning and knew it was a bit heavy but I was surprised how much. I was managing well enough once I got warmed up. I'll leave it for a bit. I think the best move I made was copying Marc's bows. The last few have been fast and nice to shoot. Thanks Marc :)

If you're talking about me then you are welcome

Nice bow by the way.  I've made quite a few BL bows including some backed with Bamboo and I have yet to see a chrysal
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: Springbuck on April 20, 2018, 07:54:20 pm
  I love BL, too.  I'll take all I can get.  Which is very little, because it isn't common around here and the borers get into the thickets of young trees so BAD!
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: bushboy on April 21, 2018, 01:37:55 pm
Very nice!the first thing I thought was yeah,Marc St Louis insprired !good on you ,not many can pull that off!
Title: Re: Maple backed Black Locust
Post by: wizardgoat on April 21, 2018, 02:29:03 pm
Nice work Don.  I have some BL billets kicking around if you want em