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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: macbow on June 19, 2015, 08:34:00 PM

Title: Honey Locust ?
Post by: macbow on June 19, 2015, 08:34:00 PM

I have a friend that cut a,really straight large Honey Locust.

Does any one know if it would make good laminated wood bows?  Or even self bows?

Could have it quarter sawn at a,local mill if worth the trouble.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: LittleBen on June 19, 2015, 10:52:00 PM

Anything will make a bow if wide and long enough. As though that hasn't been said 1000 times.

I recall recently on PA someone was making honey locust bow. Might look more broadly.

If it were me I'd give it a try for selfbows. With a large log, you have minimal crown, and you can go pretty wide if needed. There's always decrowning too.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: Pyro43 on June 20, 2015, 12:00:00 AM

If you look it up on the wood database, you can see it's characteristics. It's pretty close to Hard Maple on all accounts.
 
It's spose to be really pretty when polished, would be an excellent candidate for a hand rubbed finish.

I think a bow made from it would turn out well, if you have some pieces with some good grain I'd definitely send them off to the mill. If they just don't work out well for bows, you're more than welcome to send them my way   ;)  .
 
I've never worked with it personally, but would love to try. I say go for it.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: canopyboy on June 20, 2015, 06:07:00 AM

Honey locust is supposed to make wonderful laminated bows and beautiful as well. I plan to take one down next month and try my luck with it.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 20, 2015, 07:09:00 AM

Ive never touched it and have never heard a good thing about it from anybody.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: John Scifres on June 20, 2015, 12:54:00 PM

Do a Google search for "honey locust bow".

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: macbow on June 20, 2015, 06:09:00 PM

Did the search John.
Looks like it is worth saving.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: Jim Jackson on June 20, 2015, 07:46:00 PM

Pics of a Sunbear Longbow crafted by Charlie Lamb:
Charcoal actionwood and honey locust.


  (http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q176/akinslow/Bows/DSC01726.jpg) (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/akinslow/media/Bows/DSC01726.jpg.html)

  (http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q176/akinslow/Bows/DSC01721.jpg) (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/akinslow/media/Bows/DSC01721.jpg.html)

  (http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q176/akinslow/Bows/DSC01723.jpg) (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/akinslow/media/Bows/DSC01723.jpg.html)

  (http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q176/akinslow/Bows/DSC01725.jpg) (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/akinslow/media/Bows/DSC01725.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: rmorris on June 20, 2015, 08:47:00 PM

I got some quarter sawn honey locust I cut down a few years ago, is has real nice flaking when cut quarter sawn. Someday I will use it as laminations under clear glass when I get the time

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: Dan Landis on June 21, 2015, 08:14:00 AM

I'm working on a honey locust self bow right now.  It's at the floor tiller stage and shows good promise so far.  It is all sap wood except a few streaks of heart wood on the handle.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: Horsey on June 22, 2015, 07:53:00 AM

Ron - I have used it many times as laminations in wood/fiberglass bows with great success.  My personal one-piece Kestrel has a honey locust core.

--Mike

Title: Re: Honey Locust ?
Post by: macbow on June 22, 2015, 09:19:00 AM

Thanks everyone.