does locust need to be crowned

[Dante_F]

i was looking at the wood database (i know, boo! hiss!) but it seems locust has a just slightly lower tension strength than hickory so im just wondering if you think it would work because i think maybe it would be good for backings. also do you think a locust backed old growth doug fir would work because both are pretty stiff so probably less material and doug fir is supposed to be good in compression and they're both everywhere here.

[DC]

I've had Doug Fir On my list for a while. I was thinking about a top branch from a big old tree though. I had Hard Maple in mind for a backing. Don't know Locust at all.

[Woodely]

"does locust need to be crowned" that I dont know but, dont bother with doug fir.      I have worked thousands of board feet of that stuff, it does not belong in bow making, arrows maybe, but then again I dont like DF for arrows either.

[Dante_F]

Yeah its soft but the branches are waaaaay denser than the trunk and fit tim bakers suggestions for making a doug fir bow saying get as much late growth as possibe 50/50 if you can so old growth is best (especially heartwood) and branches for those secs so hopefully 

[Dante_F]

prob not tho

[George Tsoukalas]

Black locust is a good bow wood and does not need to be crowned. D fir makes good arrows.
Jawge

[Jim Davis]

i was looking at the wood database (i know, boo! hiss!) but it seems locust has a just slightly lower tension strength than hickory...

I am puzzled by your conclusion about tension strength, never having seen any numbers in any database about tension strength of ANY wood....

[Dante_F]

modulus of rupture is basically how far it will bend before breaking so thats what i put for tension

[Jim Davis]

In point of fact, any limb or beam will fail in compression before it fails in tension, unless there is a flaw in the tension surface, so, modulus of rupture is more a comparison of compression strength than tension.

Tension testing of wood is seldom done because the wood will fail in shear at the attachment points unless dimensions are greatly enlarged at the those points. And since wood fails first in either compression or shear, tension strength is much less important in engineering considerations.

[Dante_F]

i think i understand now, ok thanks