Heat treating bl. walnut

[redhillwoods]

Hi everyone. I love using black walnut for lighter weight bows (up to about 35lbs.) but I've never heat-treated them. Does anyone have experience doing this?

[Pat B]

I don't have experience heat treating BW  but I'd guess it would work just fine like with most "whitewoods".

[bradsmith2010]

I have never done it,, try it and tells us how it goes,,,

[bassman]

I have heat treated Black Walnut many times.It works great.One of my favorite bow woods. I make them mostly out of saplings.Ax them down green , put them on a 5 inch back set form, and let them dry in my basement. Before I take them off the form I heat treat them.Once tillered I heat treat them again.Belly heat treat with Walnut makes a big difference in performance and set.Build it wide, and at 27 inch draw I make them 62 inches long  Pyramid style.Two inches coming off of the fades to five eighths at the tips.Low density wood makes them very light ,and pretty snappy when built properly. It is an underrated bow wood.It can ding easy , but just adds character.Bob.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I love black walnut when I can get it. Heat treating does do wonders with it. Like said it makes for a very low mass smooth shooter. My current daily shooter is a black walnut heartwood ELB pulling 68# at 27”. So it’s not just delighted to low draw weights. It’s approx 1.25” wide and 72” long and heat treated twice and had to be bent straight. It’s not the fastest shooter, but it’s fast enough and very quiet and smooth shooting.

Kyle

[bassman]

Yes, I have made 46 and 48 lb. bows from it at 54,56,58 inches long. 26 inch draw that shoot great. The outer growth ring on walnut sapling is really thick.No backing necessary.If you have some try it. Bob