Black locust/wood questions

[DuBois]

I cut some BL the other day, got home, split, and there was some worm damage.
Mostly looks clean but they have made it to the inner rings in a few spots. Would hate to put a bunch of time into one and find damage when near completed.

Would you guys keep this and hope for the best or?

And the sapling of about 2"-would this work for a bow?

Thanks again!

[wapiti1997]

Looks like hackberry to me, from the biggest section.

If I only saw that top piece, I'd think it was sweetgum...

It always helps to tell where you're located when asking for tree ID.

[DuBois]

What do you think of the BL? Keep?

[wapiti1997]

BL grows straight and clean if there are other trees around, I'd look for a better specimen, but that's just me.  There's possibly a bow there, but IMO it takes some advanced skills on that one.

I'm thinking the sapling is too much sapwood, again just my opinion, and I'm a newbie at this.

[randman]

That Black Locust looks pretty bad if the worms have gotten that deep into the heartwood. The Hackberry looks pretty good though. The first bow I made was from Hackberry (didn't know it at the time though).

[ionicmuffin]

I dont think thats BL. its different than the stuff at my house. I can positively identify my BL and it also has only a thin layer of sapwood before the heartwood. The bark has a very distinct diamond shaped pattern. Like this.

[randman]

Ionic, The first pic is Hackberry and the splits pics are BL. Your pic is def BL.

[ionicmuffin]

Ah, well i cant claim to be an expert on wood. but yeah i do know my black locust. i see it all over the place, and i get excited thinking maybe i can talk to the people owning the wood and have them let me cut it lol. that and every time i see a really thick tall "strait" scotch broom. but thats besides the point. the sapwood on the staves looks pretty thick. do you know why that is?

[randman]

Definitely go after the scotchbroom, nobody cares if you cut that unless its in their front yard I guess - I have seen that too

[DuBois]

The trees I cut were from 5" to 8" diameter with about 1//2 " sapwood, then lighter golden wood color until the inner dark wood core.

[DarkSoul]

Looks like black locust to me...it's pretty typical of the type we have over on this side of the pond.

That 2" black locust sapling would be firewood to me. Too much sapwood, too many knots and too difficult to dry.