Chris Boling

u could always ask the local rail yard if they have any old scrap pieces of rr rail lyin around,or u could walk the local rr track.the rail road almost never cleans up after themselves after fixin anything.i found the piece of rr rail im using as an anvil buried in a large pile of rr spikes.i also picked up the spikes and have enough to sink a ship almost

when i was 11 i got shot in my right arm with a 12 ga shotgun.the blast obliterated my elbow to the extent that i cannot completely extend my right arm or twist my right wrist.i am 21 now and have been smithing for a year now,i always liked workin with steel and i took vocational traning to become a welder,my hammer hand is still my right arm,my trick is to let the hammer start fallin then add some force mid swing like a wip effect. works pretty good but takes a little more practise on timeing and hammer control but saves my right arm from hurtin in the long run

Matt; As it is already seasoned it seems doubtful that he might get a good bow blank from it... they should be split out while green... knife and other tool handles too of course, but less critical as bows need long staves with very little splitting whereas knife handles often need only be a few inches in length.

Finished a Bowie with a 8" blade of 1080 and stainless fittings. Thanks for looking

It's easier to split them green, certainly, but what would be the harm in ripping it in half and bandsawing out a blank (or a couple) from one of the halves?

Of course I'm assuming it isn't riddled with knots and checks to begin with.

I've heard that locust is a good wood,but I don't know.
have any of u used this wood? and if so,what are your thoughts and results.
I would greatly apprecate any insight on this matter

I've heard that locust is a good wood,but I don't know.
have any of u used this wood? and if so,what are your thoughts and results.
I would greatly apprecate any insight on this matter