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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: DirtyDan on August 19, 2008, 02:52:00 PM

Title: Locust sapling bow
Post by: DirtyDan on August 19, 2008, 02:52:00 PM

I cut this locust sapling near the railroad tracks, took it home, cut it in half, tillered it, glued a piece of it on for a handle and it came out a real shooter.  64" long, 54# @ 26".  This shows that the sap wood makes a good backing for the core wood.

Dan Spier
 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0463.jpg) (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0464.jpg) (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0468.jpg) (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0469.jpg) (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/locust%20sapling%20bow/DSC_0465.jpg)

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Pat B on August 19, 2008, 03:07:00 PM

Excellent!!!  Dan thats a great little bow. Right up my alley! I see one in my near future.      Pat

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Jim now in Kentucky on August 19, 2008, 03:09:00 PM

Haven't left sapwood on a locust bow yet, but I have made one from a sapling. It took a lot of abuse and kept a 3" reflex. Chrysalled from end to end and kept right on shooting.

Jim

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: onemississipp on August 19, 2008, 03:17:00 PM

Great bow....I like the looks of locust.

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Dano on August 19, 2008, 03:23:00 PM

I LIKE IT!!

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on August 19, 2008, 03:56:00 PM

way kool....

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Pat B on August 19, 2008, 04:21:00 PM

Dan, What was your time frame from cut to finished bow?    Pat

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: JEFF B on August 19, 2008, 04:27:00 PM

real nice dan!!  :clapper:

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: DirtyDan on August 19, 2008, 07:23:00 PM

Pat, I cut it down while a mechanic was working on my truck across the street from the tracks.  I took a broken bottle and de-barked it, took it home and cut off one end for the handle, cut it in two on the band saw.  I glued the handle on it that night and finished tillering and sanding the next day.  About five hours, I guess.  Thanks, everyone for the kind words. Isn't this a cool site?
Dan

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Jim now in Kentucky on August 19, 2008, 08:16:00 PM

Some of us are wondering about drying time????

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Pat B on August 19, 2008, 09:39:00 PM

So its still green?

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 19, 2008, 10:28:00 PM

Nice job, Dan. Sweet tiller. On BL the closer to the heartwood the stringer the sapwood. My first shooter was made from a  sapling BL. Still have it. Jawge

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: DirtyDan on August 20, 2008, 09:05:00 AM

Woops, sorry.  Yes, I did let it dry out after I took the bark off.  I shellaced it and set it aside for awhile--I'm not sure how long--a week or two perhaps, but saplings dry out very quickly.  You can floor tiller them and clamp them into some reflex or reflex-deflex and let them dry out that way.

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Arrowslinger on August 20, 2008, 09:13:00 AM

Nice bow Dan.  Hope to see you Saturday.

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Big Dave on August 21, 2008, 03:51:00 PM

I like it. David  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: aprice555 on August 21, 2008, 04:48:00 PM

That looks great. I really like the looks of this bow.  Great job!
Anthony

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: DirtyDan on August 22, 2008, 02:13:00 PM

Thanks, everyone.

Dan

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Pat B on August 22, 2008, 02:15:00 PM

Hey Dan, show this bow off over at PA. Someone was asking about locust sapwood and bows.     Pat

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: DirtyDan on August 24, 2008, 11:08:00 AM

Okay, Pat, I will.  Do you think we should tell the guys on PA about this site?  What do you think?

Dan

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: Pat B on August 24, 2008, 11:23:00 AM

I mentioned it the other day. Its OK as long as you don't add the link. Just like on here. I mention TradGang quite a bit on PA.
   They will love this bow and I like the fact that you used a wood that "can't" make a bow to make an excellent bow!     Pat

Title: Re: Locust sapling bow
Post by: DirtyDan on August 24, 2008, 11:26:00 AM

Okay, here goes.

Dan