« Last post by Pat B on November 17, 2025, 02:19:55 pm »
I use Imgur, a photo storage site. It's free and it gives you options for sizing photos for different applications. I've used it for quite a few years now and have never had a problem with it. Before Imgur I used Photobucket which also claimed to be a free photo hosting sight. After a few years they decided to charge without letting me remove my photos. I lost over 100 pages of photos to Photobucket, many of which were bow building related pics, some were build alongs.
« Last post by Badger on November 17, 2025, 01:16:00 pm »
If the sample is an accurate 1" cube and the moisture is at 10% you have a piece that is around .8 sg. Same as osage. Pretty common for black locust. If it does not chrysal black locust can make super fast bows. From the woods, I tested black locust had the lowest hysteresis. Funny thing is that woods low in hysteresis also tend to chrysal. Good luck.
« Last post by Robert Pougnier on November 17, 2025, 12:38:52 pm »
I thought I would post one of my favorite bows.
I build this one a few years ago. Originally tillered to 45# @ 28".
After several years of shooting and several thousand shots, it developed only 1" of string follow. I recently gave the belly a new heat treat and reflexed the last 4 inches by 1 1/2 " using dry heat. Poundage increased to 50# and string follow after about 250 shots fell to zero.
It's a stable a smooth shooter and with the right arrows I've had tight groups at 60 feet. I love this bow, particularly the worm patterns that were hiding underneath the cambium.
« Last post by JW_Halverson on November 17, 2025, 12:02:46 pm »
Let me echo what Pappy and Pat have said and add that you don't have to worry about people making fun of you or picking on your work. This place was built on giving constructive criticism and the desire to help everyone succeed. In that manner, it's almost a little creepy at first for those of us that grew up rough. Sometimes it's harder for us to accept compliments than to accept criticism.
Sign up, show up from time to time, join in the conversation. We'd all love to get to meet you.
« Last post by JW_Halverson on November 17, 2025, 11:55:25 am »
Pappy, there is some pretty good evidence that the denser the wood is for its species, the better it works for bows. Say, if the average density of a species of tree is .600, then a sample coming in at .700 is likely to make a better bow and one coming in at .500 will need a collar and a leash because it's gonna be a dog.
I know in my experience I have made a couple green ash bows that shot so badly you didn't need a chronograph to measure the speed of the arrow, you needed a CALENDAR! Both staves came from a tree that was super lightweight.