I'm picking up 200 bdft of honey locust tomorrow for a few house hold projects (farm table, gun cabinet, bookshelves, etc.). Some of the boards are fairly straight-grained and I'm thinking they might be perfect for a bamboo-backed bow.
I'm fairly sure it will work, but I don't want to waste my time. What do you guys think?
Looper, go for it! It should be great. Even a self, or other backing should work. There are some bowyers out there, that are also using it in glass bows!
If doing a bamboo backed, you might put in what some call a powerlam, of Walnut, between the backing and belly of Locust.
Frank, that's kind of what I was thinking. I don't think I could do a self bow out of it, though. It's 4/4 and I'm pretty sure every ring is violated. The power lam would just be through the handle area and out to the fades, right?
It is a gorgeous wood, and the best part is I bought it for $1.04/bdft.