Black locust: cut...now what?

[Carson (CMB)]

I am looking for advice on seasoning black locust.  I cut a large branch yesterday and want to get a pair of billets from it. 
I was thinking of rough cutting out the billets to speed up the drying time, as that is what I have been doing with vine maple. 

Also, those seem like really wide growth rings to me, but I have only worked with vine maple so far.

[fishfinder401]

QUICK SEAL THE ENDS
noel
PS; those are thick growth rings

[blackhawk]

Id cut it off a couple inches below that crotch, then split it into billets,seal the ends,and then wait for em to dry in a year or two(if your not in dire need for wood),but if in a need for dry wood sooner then you can rip the bark and sapwood off to the first heartwood ring,then seal the back as well with shellac.

Hopefully you have enough length from a couple inches below that crotch to the base. You need at least 36" of length billets for adult bows as a general rule.

[mikekeswick]

I would also go a couple inches below the branch splitbefore splittting. The grain will likely be running a bit weird there. I would split them now and remove sapwood, chase a ring and seal the ends and back. You could also then reduce the thickness by removing wood from the future belly. Just make sure you leave enough to make your bow! Try to keep the billets rectangular so that they dry evenly and are less likely to warp. I've never had any problems with BL checking but then it never gets below 60% humidity here.....

[Carson (CMB)]

Ok, so I sealed the ends with some latex paint I had laying around as soon as I saw fishfinders post.  I think I will let this one sit for awhile. I might be able to cut some more locust here pretty soon.  I will see if I can get some with a little slower growth. And I will be sure to seal the ends soon after cutting.  BTW, is latex paint worthy of sealing duties?

[fishfinder401]

i think it would be, you can also use wood glue,  i might be wrong, but with woods like black locust and osage orange, large growth rings are good
noel

[Carson (CMB)]

Thanks again fishfinder.  I took a look at the latex paint on ends and it looks like a second coat would be a good idea.  Looks a little thin and "brearthable" with just one coat. 

I am a novice here, and have been trying to read up on basics here and in TBB vols 1-3. I thought with Osage it was the proportion of early to late growth and growth rings were irrelevant?  I cant recall reading anything about locust, but I hope you are right fishfinder. 

[fishfinder401]

you are right about the ratio being important, generally though thick growth rings will push that ratio in you favor, usually......
noel

[Carson (CMB)]

OK, I see.  That makes sense.  I guess I will find out about wide growth rings in black locust when I make a bow out of this branch.

Looks like there is enough wood below that crotch to get a pair of billets.