Woods often get disparaged for good reasons, but I believe in first, using what ya got, and second giving every decent stave a chance. I've also been going though a phase where i am trying to tiller more by feel, what I know should be right, and instinct, Paleo-style, rather than using the tree and measuring as much.
So this was made from a 4" + yellow locust volunteer sapling growing near a road in a fence. The little tree had no visible heartwood and pretty thick rings. It was pretty dense for the specie, and had a natural set back handle, so I roughed it out, strapped it down and..........left it too long. The powderpost beetles got to it when they went though my wood about 3 years ago. I cut around the damage and got this front profile from it. The front shape is basically what the beetles let me have. One tip needed an overlay, but the bug holes run up alongside the limb edges, and one digs right into the face of the limb. It will get a wrap, but survives because it is not deep and not on the highest part of the crown. I started with heat straightened limbs, the slight set back on the handle, not reflex, and slightly reflexed tips, about 10" and 1.5" foreward. Didn't want to overdo it.
