How well does Black Locust belly split?

[DC]

I have a BL stave. If I belly split it I can get two bows. It has a slight dogleg and a twist. I may cut it into billets to solve both of those. I'm assuming that it would be easier to get a decent belly split from a shorter piece. Does nice dry BL belly split well?

[Mo_coon-catcher]

That locust has some awesome looking rings!
I’ve had good luck splitting Nd black locust since it likes to follow the grain when split. But to play it safe I like to stare in the middle of the stave with a cheap hatched head I don’t mind beating up. That way the split only has half the stave length to try running out. And if it starts wanting to run out, start splitting from the end grain before it gets too far. I don’t think you’ll have too much issue getti nvm a belly split.

Kyle

[DC]

I got that from Wizardgoat. Don't know it's geneology If it wasn't for a big knot(on the right side, about 3" down) there might be 3 bows in it.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Ive always approached it the safe way. If I know I can get two bows worth, Ill do it. If I think I can get three bows worth, I dont do it.

[Hamish]

I've only belly split locust whilst green, but it split pretty well.

You have some good fat rings.
 
I did billet length pieces and started to tap out a split on the end grain, following the curve of the growth ring with small cold chisels 1/2" and less wide. Once the split started I would follow the growth rings down both sides of the billet, with the cold chisels, until it popped off.

[wizardgoat]

Don your probably better off sawing it up and splicing some bows.
I’d been eyeing up the stand of BL trees at the end of my street for years.
One day I drove by and they were tearing down the house and had already cut
down all the trees, in a huge pile. I asked the workers, they said they leave at 3
and didn’t care what happened after they left. Called up some buddies, brought some saws and wedges and got a pretty good haul.

[M2A]

Nice piece of wood! I have had better success splitting seasoned rather than green overall... I think billet sized piece of what you got would be doable starting from the endgrain with 2 chisles, sometimes they pop right apart, but then you got to splice....I have had some run wild on me tho...so easy does it.
Mike     

[DC]

Don your probably better off sawing it up and splicing some bows.
I’d been eyeing up the stand of BL trees at the end of my street for years.
One day I drove by and they were tearing down the house and had already cut
down all the trees, in a huge pile. I asked the workers, they said they leave at 3
and didn’t care what happened after they left. Called up some buddies, brought some saws and wedges and got a pretty good haul.

So that's B.C. Locust? If so somehow the good early/late ratio surprises me.

[DC]

After looking at it closer there isn't enough wood to safely get a belly split. "If" it split well and "if" I didn't screw up chasing a ring and "if" I used a glue on riser there would be enough. Too many "ifs"

[TimBo]

Yeah, even though BL usually has split well for me, that looks pretty small to get a belly split...also looks like a really nice stave, so I wouldn't want to risk it.

[DC]

Does the ring right under the sapwood work for the back? It looks the same as the rest of them to my untrained BL eyes.

[TimBo]

That's what I would use - they all look like a good thickness.

[Brevi]

It splits well when green or even half dry , dont know about full dry .

Mennonite farmers planted it around Black Creek BC for making farm things out of , it has self seeded in a few areas but is rare. It doesn't like our long cool springs so is the last deciduous tree to leaf out , prefers more heat and sun. A few bigger trees on perfect sites.

It makes one helluva splitting maul handle  and axe handles , very strong .  Dries very hard .

Saw one really beautiful longbow made of black locust , it shone golden .

[wizardgoat]

Ya Don that’s some Vancouver locust! A good sign for our osage trees

[DC]

I got one billet down to one ring. It's flawless.