Just a quick question.  I have a stave chased dried for 4 years and ready to make a bow.  Can I used dimensions similiar to osage with this wood?  Can I make the bow shorter if I use a sinew backing?  If I sinew back it, how many layers can I put on?  Any advice would be helpful.

No, you can't use the same dimensions. What is your draw? Jawge

My draw lenght is 26 inches. Does this bow need to be wider.  I am limitied to 1 1/2 in because that is all that I have.

Locust should be a bit wider but you can make it a longer to compensate. Wait until you hear back from George. BL is one bow wood I have lots of trouble with and George makes very good bows from this wood.

I'm no expert but I've made a couple of BL bows.  One to hunt with and the other was a split off piece that I made a low weight bow from.  The hunting bow is 65" long, 1 3/4" wide at the fades to just beyond mid-limb, then tapering to 7/16" tips.  I tillered it to 29" and 55#  This wasn't a really good stave but it worked.  I have shot it a good bit and hunted with it one season.  So far no frets.  This bow is overbuilt.  I flipped the tips and left them too thick and it has some hand shock, but not bad.  I will use the same dimensions the next time except not carry the 1 3/4" past mid limb and will thin the tips down more to reduce weight.  I also trapped the back a bit to try and reduce stress on the belly.

I've heard a lot of guys talk about BL fretting, guys who are way better at building bows than me.  So I don't know if I got lucky or I just really overbuilt this one.  The bow did take some set but I did take my best buck with it.

Aaron

I only have 1 1/2 at my widest point.  Can I leave the bow thin and sinew back it and expect good results?  Keep in mind that I have never sinewed a bow before, but I want to.

Again I'm not the bow builder that most of these guys are but with a 26" draw I would think that 1 1/2" would be fine.  But what is the length of the stave and what draw weight are you looking for?  If it's really short (under say 60") you may be pushing it.  But if it's longer than that I would think you would be OK.  It also depends on the stave itself.  If it's full of knots or has been compromised in some way then it may not work out.

I'd say just try it out and see what happens.  I've never done sinew back either but with the problems some have with BL fretting I guess it could overpower the belly and cause problems.

Aaron

The stave is about 68 in long and is very clean.  I was thinking about going with 64 in and keeping the limbs 1 1/2  for about 15 in from the handle and then starting my taper.  I would like to have this one around 55 to 60 lbs at 26 in.

You should be able to achieve your goal with a selfbow and especially with your 26" draw.  Locust can be finicky so take it slow. Be thoughtful with each scrape, exercise well after each wood removal session and don't overstress the limbs. Take your time and if you find you are getting frustrated or confused, put it down and walk away. A clear head prevails!

Sounds like it is doable.  That should give you the max width you have for the main working part of the limb.  Keep us updated on your progress.  I've only done a couple of BL but I like it.  
Anxious to see how yours turns out.  Good luck with it.  Hopefully more experienced bow builders than myself will chime in and give you some good advice.

Aaron

I've experienced building several BL selfbows that performed as good as osage bows but, others built have recieved the compression fractures during tillering.

Here's a BL snakey bow I gave to a young feller years back.

You can't go wider than 1.5 in so I would go longer. I'd go 66 in ntn. Jawge

I'm well on my way.  I just about got it floor tillered last night.  I made it 64 in long.  I hope that is enough!  It is wide at 1 1/2 down the limbs and then a taper the last 16 in of limb that reduces the tips down to 1/2.  They are a bit wide now for string alignment pourpouses.  So far so good.  I really like how easy it is to work.  It smells like poplar when I scrape it too. I am shooting for a 45 pounder at 24 inches.  This one is going to my wife so I don't have to hear her keep asking when I am going to make her a bow.  I will post some pics of my progress tonight.  Thanks for all the help.

We'll be waiting those pics.

Here is the handle.  handle is three and a half inches long and an inch and an eighth thick.  The fade outs are shorter too.  They are only an inch and a quarter.

a proflie pic

and a floor tiller pic.  The limbs are still very stiff.  I haven't put a scale on it et, but they feel very strong.

From what I can see it looks flat just below the nail and back towards the handle on the right limb. Try for better lighting for your next pic.
 You can shorten your long string to slightly longer than the bow and get a more accurate reading.

1/2 inch thick is not thick enough. YOu'll need to do a glue on handle. Jawge