Black Locust

[John K]

Some Black Locust i got over the weekend.







and a Black Locust Burl.

[DanaM]

Nice, save one for me eh

[John K]

Sure will Dana !

[Jude]

Nice lookin stuff

[Cacatch]

Good for you! Black locust is always good to have around.   

The heartwood really doesn't look like the BL heartwood I've seen in Indiana when fresh cut though. The bark does, but the heartwood looks more light brown/cream colored to me. Here in Indiana all the heartwood I've ever seen was greenish yellow when fresh cut and a little more defined than what you got. But I think the color does vary from state to state.

Anyhow, I'm jealous! 

CP

[John K]

CP, I think it's because it's a younger tree ?  I to think it might very from region to region.

[Ryano]

Yep, I've seen both colors around here. I think it just depends on the minerals in the ground where it was growing or something. From my experiance the darker green colored stuff seems to be more dense and made better bows.

[John K]

Thanks Ryano, this stuff was growing in very sandy soil. I cut some from a buddys place a couple years ago that was much darker and that was growing in real rocky soil...........will see how it goes !

[stickbender]

     John K;
     Do you use the heart wood, and not the sap wood?  Or a combination?  Or ......just what part of Black Locust do you use for making bows?

                                                                             Wayne

[John K]

Wayne, i only use the heart wood.

[crooketarrow]

    I've used both but the 2 I made with sap wood I sinewed and I made 2 out of only heart wood.I was told type of ground,minerals and growing close to wallnut trees all made it darker.I'm not sure this guy knew for sure.But he talked a good talk.

[stickbender]

    Ok, thanks. I thought that was what was used, but was not real sure.  I know that they say that Black Locust will last longer than rock!   Some of the old homes that used that wood for siding on the housing, well over a hundred years ago, are still standing, and still solid, with no signs of rot!  Supposedly when the settlers would build a log cabin, they would use Black locust for the first five or six layers, then oak, and then pine, if those woods were available.  The Locust would hold up to the wet wether, better than the other woods.  Some of those log cabins are still standing also!
                                        Wayne.

[John K]

Cool, Thanks for the info !

[Jude]

It is pretty rot resistant.  I was told it was the preferred wood for anvil stumps (bottom half buried), and it was popular for fence posts, for the same reason.