Black Locust

Lee Lobbestael · July 16, 2010, 03:01:00 PM

Hey guys! Any body here ever made a self bow with black locust? Anything I should know about it before I start?

Dave Bowers · July 16, 2010, 03:09:00 PM

I personally haven't, but I have seen several bow made from black locust.

Good luck to you!

Osagetree · July 16, 2010, 04:17:00 PM

It's a good wood for selfbows. You'll find large growth rings that are easy to follow. I'd go 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" wide at the fades to about mid limb and then tapper to somewhere around 1/2" tips. Tillering is crital as black locust will fret fairly easily.

Here's one I did some years back,,, black locust and blacksnake skin with rivercane arrows.

Dan Landis · July 17, 2010, 07:11:00 PM

I made one once from a BL sapling about 1-1/4" dia. It is 65" ntn and pulls 60# at 28" and shoots pretty good. This was actually my first shooter, probably would have taken less set if I had more experience at tillering. I've been looking for a good BL stave to cut so I can make one from a stave. Keep us posted of your progress. Dan

Pat B · July 17, 2010, 11:32:00 PM

I cut my bow building teeth on black locust. I could buy locust fence rails for $5 each. I screwed up lots of good locust. My problem not the woods.
George Tsoukalas loves locust and makes great bows with it. Check out his website.

Lee Lobbestael · July 17, 2010, 11:55:00 PM

Thanks guys!Thats a beautiful bow osage! Does heat treating the belly work on bl to help eliminate fretting?

Pat B · July 18, 2010, 01:49:00 PM

I would think that locust would fair well with heat treating the belly. It sure would help the compression.
I have heard that locust is the strongest wood in compression strength of all the NA hardwoods. It is brittle and that is where the fretting comes in.

Pennsyltuckey pete · July 21, 2010, 06:53:00 PM

My first bows were Black Locust. It is nice to work with and will make a nice bow. Just beware of the splinters. They fester!

JustinNC · July 21, 2010, 10:17:00 PM

Getting ready to. Stumbled on a black locust blown over, still intact from last week's tornado. Fellow said I could have it all. Going to cut what I can for staves and the rest for fire wood. Will likely be my first bow other than maybe a couple board bows (until I get one that holds together). Would start with hickory, but I'll take what the good Lord gives me.