Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Woodland Roamer on October 29, 2008, 09:51:19 pm

Title: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on October 29, 2008, 09:51:19 pm: Hey everyone, here is a bow that I just finished up. It's Black Locust, 64 inches, 1 1/2 inch wide to midlimb and tapers to 3/8 at the nocks. It pulls 52 at 26. I only removed one layer of the sapwood so it ended up just about 50/50 sap-heartwood. This stave had been cut for about ten months but as I roughed out the bow it started gaining some reflex and I think this was because of the sapwood. It now has about one inch of reflex after resting. I'll be making more of these with the sapwood on, it shoots great and I like the way the contrast looks plus it's less work than removing all the sapwod.
Alan

(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/101_1783.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/101_1785.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/101_1787.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/101_1797.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/101_1789.jpg)
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/AlanShook/101_1794.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Hillbilly on October 29, 2008, 10:57:03 pm: Good looking bow, Alan-tiller looks great, too. That's what I plan to try with that locust stave you gave me-a Cherokee longbow with a sapwood back.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 29, 2008, 11:35:22 pm: Nice bow. I like that tiller. Sapwood backs will work well when you don't have enough heartwood. Jawge
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Pat B on October 29, 2008, 11:44:03 pm: Alan, is that the same locust you gave me? I keep looking at it. I'm gonna go with an Eastern Woodland style too and will keep the sapwood on. 8)
Cool bow with great tiller. Pat
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Sparrow on October 30, 2008, 12:30:54 am: That is a great looking design.Nice Bow ! I am working on a locust stave now and have 2 or 3 more waiting on me.I do believe I will have to copy this one. Thanks Frank
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Pappy on October 30, 2008, 05:42:21 am: Sweet looking bow,nice tiller and the contrast between the sap and heart wood look great. :)
Pappy
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: DanaM on October 30, 2008, 07:07:57 am: Looks great, looking forward to trying BL someday.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Ryano on October 30, 2008, 08:30:09 am: Nice job. Looks like it might be bending a bit more on the bottom limb several inches off the handle area. It might just be a weird camera angle on that snakey spot though? Hard to tell.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Bowbound on October 30, 2008, 09:23:06 am: Nice bow, i like the contrast too. ;D ;D
I like the rapped handle.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on October 30, 2008, 01:48:00 pm: Thanks Steve.

Thanks George.

Thanks Pat, no this is from a different place than the stuff I gave you and Steve. I've been looking at the rest of the staves from what I gave ya'll and the heartwood seems a bit lighter color than this bow and most locust I cut. I hope it'll work ok.

Thanks Frank.

Thanks Pappy.

Thanks Dana.

Thanks Ryan, that bottom limb has a kink that was really hard to tiller. It might be just a little off but I was ready to move on to the next one. ::)

Thanks Limey Josh.

Alan
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Pat B on October 30, 2008, 03:11:21 pm: Hey Steve. He gave us the crappy stuff and kept the good stuff for himself. Sheesh!!! ::) ;D ;)
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Hillbilly on October 30, 2008, 04:16:16 pm: ;D It does look different from any locust I've seen-strange color. I'm looking forward to tearing into it.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on October 30, 2008, 09:37:51 pm: >:D :D Yeah I don't know what's up with the color of that stuff, best I remember it looked normal when I cut it.

Alan
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: michbowguy on October 30, 2008, 10:42:50 pm: THAT SURE IS A NICE LOOKING BOW!! :o
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: medicinewheel on October 31, 2008, 06:27:38 am: Quote from: michbowguy on October 30, 2008, 10:42:50 pm
THAT SURE IS A NICE LOOKING BOW!! :o

DITO.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on October 31, 2008, 10:16:42 am: Thanks michbow.

Thanks medicinewheel.

Alan
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: servicebeary on December 29, 2008, 12:02:13 am: Have any of you BL users made a 28" 50+ with no crysyl-whatever they are called (little compression fractures on the belly) ?? I've got tons of it here in idaho and have one in progress but have had a really tough time chasing a ring, or even distinguishing between the rings. Any advice on chasing BL rings? I'm definately going to try the sapwood backing on my next one :-\ The one I'm working on also has a 1 inch knot right in the middle of the working limb. You all think I've got a prayer of making it work like it's Osage cousins can? thanks -nick
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: servicebeary on December 29, 2008, 12:06:13 am: oh yah, forget to mention how nice that bow is, nice work, I think I'll be copying that as well, better get a patent on that thing ;D
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on December 29, 2008, 10:57:47 am: Hey thanks Nick. I've made several BL bows and never had any problem with compression fractures at all. I have one that is two years old now and draws 56 at 26 and has never had any belly problems. How dry is yours? I think chasing rings on BL that is too wet can be a bit tough. Also how wide are the rings? Some will not agree with me but just going by the results I've had I think BL is just as good as osage, I love the stuff.

Alan
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Keenan on December 29, 2008, 11:07:31 am: Very nice bow Allen. I like sap wood contrast on bows when it doesn't effect performance. The braced profile looks especially good. Are you going to leave it natural on the finish or possibly do some design work on the back?
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: OldBow on December 29, 2008, 03:04:25 pm: Ditto everybody else's admiring comments. And bookmarked for Dec Self Bow of the Month unless you want it in January.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on December 29, 2008, 03:14:16 pm: Thanks Keenan, I'll leave the back natural on this one just to show off the sapwood.

Thanks Don, but this was a post from October that got bumped up again. It was in that months contest so don't enter it again.

Alan
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: PeteC on December 29, 2008, 08:55:36 pm: That bow turned out real good.I like it.How does it shoot? God Bless
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: servicebeary on December 29, 2008, 10:22:54 pm: well, mine was at least 80% dry, still could have had a little more moisture than a cured stave,but I sealed it back up with the waxy stuff I use after I worked on it. And I think the rings were a nice 1/8" so that shouldn't have given me any trouble. I've since dulled my draw knife a bit on osage and maybe that will help? Have you done any without the sapwood and still got no compression problems? oh yah, and how long have all your BL bows been? and I assume a rigid handle? thanks -nick
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Woodland Roamer on December 30, 2008, 12:07:17 am: Thanks Pete, it shoots great.

Nick, you're right 1/8" rings shouldnt be any trouble. The dull draw knife may help, give it a try. Make sure you have real good light to work under, if you can take it out in the sun during the day that could help. This is actually the only BL I've done with sapwood, all my others have been heartwood with no compression problems. I've made most of them 62-64" with a stiff handle and I draw 26.

Alan
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: servicebeary on December 30, 2008, 11:02:37 am: It couldn't be my poor lighting in my shop ::) I'll throw in the flood light bulb 8) next time I give it a try. Thanks for the info, I'm glad to hear BL is not like everything I've read and heard about compression fractures. Maybe you've just hit a gold mine for all of us. Thanks! -nick
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: ricktrojanowski on January 01, 2009, 07:17:45 am: Nice job on that BL. I didn't know you could leave the sapwood on. I'll have to give that a try. It sure beats removing that thick layer. Also the contrast is cool looking.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: Ryano on January 01, 2009, 10:52:33 am: Nick, you need to be extra careful with your tillering on locust. If you over stress it in any one spot it will chrystal or fret. If designed properly and executed well locust will make a great bow.
Title: Re: Black Locust Bow With Sapwood Back
Post by: servicebeary on January 02, 2009, 11:12:26 am: good to know, and thanks, I'll just get it tapered really nice and really flat before I put much stress on it.