Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ricktrojanowski on February 20, 2008, 11:43:58 pm

Title: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 20, 2008, 11:43:58 pm: Anybody have any experience w/ Kentucky Coffee tree for a bow? Do you build a bow w/similar dimensions as an osage or do you build like a whitewood bow?
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: Auggie on February 21, 2008, 12:34:37 am: Never built it,but it is in the hickory family,so build it just like it was hick,and post the pics!
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on February 21, 2008, 01:19:56 am: whitewood.............................bob
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: Hillbilly on February 21, 2008, 09:32:40 am: Quote
Never built it,but it is in the hickory family,so build it just like it was hick,and post the pics!

Actually, KCT is in the Fabacaea, legume or bean family-same family as locust. Hickory is in the Juglandacaea, or walnut family. Here are the USDA wood stats for KCT:

General

The wood of Kentucky coffeetree is ring porous, resembling ash, honeylocust or sassafras. Its sapwood is narrow and yellowish white, while the heartwood is light red to reddish brown. The wood has no characteristic odor or taste. It is hard and heavy, with a coarse, straight grain.

Mechanical Properties (2-inch standard)

Compression

Specific

gravity
MOE

x106 lbf/in2
MOR

lbf/in2
Parallel

lbf/in2
Perpendicular

lbf/in2
WMLa

in-lbf/in3
Hardness

lbf
Shear

lbf/in2

Green
0.53
1.00
7,320
3,360
870
—
1,080
1,360

Dry
0.60
1.42
10,500
6,600
1,470
—
1,390
1,780

aWML = Work to maximum load.

Reference (90).

Drying and Shrinkage

Type of shrinkage
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture content)

0% MC
6% MC
20% MC

Tangential
7.6
5.9
2.4

Radial
4.1
3.3
1.2

Volumetric
11.9
9.6
4.0

Reference (90).

Kiln Drying Schedule: No information available at this time.

Working Properties: Kentucky coffeetree works without difficulty and finishes to a smooth surface.

Durability: Very resistant to heartwood decay, especially in contact with the soil.

Preservation: No information available at this time.

Uses: Cabinets, railroad ties, fence posts and rails, general construction, railway sleepers, bridge timbers, sills, interior finish, fuel. The seeds were used by the pioneers as a coffee substitute ("coffeetree").
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: snedeker on February 21, 2008, 10:52:28 am: I've wondered about it too and figure one would use in designs similar to those used for oak. Its popular around here in PA along streets in towns. Has big seed pods.

Dave
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: TRACY on February 21, 2008, 11:03:35 am: Hats off to Hillbilly with the correction. I've got some staves drying as I type. I plan on building as I would with hickory. I also want to chase a heartwood ring and compare with the bow with sapwood. Good luck
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: snedeker on February 21, 2008, 11:16:48 am: Yes, Hillbilly appears to be ::)maybe even better-educated than Jethro Bodine.
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: Hillbilly on February 21, 2008, 06:20:33 pm: I probably went to the same school as Jethro. I have about the same IQ ;D
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: Rich Saffold on February 21, 2008, 07:34:55 pm: We even have several of these trees here. I remember seeing a bow made from it at Mojam... Also I have yet to see any wood which is decay resistant not make a good bow..

Rich-More diversity here than I can tackle in a lifetime...
Title: Re: Kentucky Coffee Tree ?
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 21, 2008, 08:04:42 pm: Thanks for the info. If I get the stave and build I'll post pics, but as long as it takes me to get bows built, it will be quite a while.