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I am looking for a couple sets of Black Locust? Anyone know of any sources?

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

I've got some big o'l logs of it my yard, probably 3-4 feet across--never considered cutting it up. Is it any good?

I believe that Matt Gage said he has access to a fallen log from a storm awhile back. If he can get a big chunk of it, perhaps we can get it split into billets and get it turned into some sets. Ask him. If I can help, I'll be glad to. I would be interested in seeing some myself.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Scott,

Definitely cut it up into guitar sets if you can.
Someone recently did some testing and supposedly it has characteristics remarkably similar to Brazilian, as does Osage Orange. It's not a real pretty wood, but it does have great tonal properties. Ask Al Carruth. I think he may even know a source for some sets.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Scott/af_one,

Grant Goltz, a member here and at the Luthierforum, posted a nice photographic sequence (on the Luthierforum) of taking logs and optimizing them into billets. If interested, let me know, and I'll PM the link to the thread.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Dave Maize has Black Locust listed on his site.

Paul

Scott - Didn't you mentioned these before, while I was pondering whether to buy a log from Rick Hearne in Oxford, PA?

Again, if it is feasible to do an OLF group project to cut up a log, I'd be more than glad to help - manual labor if in range, help covering cost of any milling plus fair price to the owner, of course, if it's far away.

I'd consider leading such a project here. Rick has one log that is big enough to cut for sides in the upper section and backs in the lower section. He won't touch it with his own equipment, though - too much of a startup cost. He uses the logs for beams in post and beam barn constructions.

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Dennis - I'd like to see that link.

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Dennis, I'd like to see that link. I only have a 14" Rigid bandsaw, and of course a chainsaw. That stuff tore up chain saw blades like they were butter.
I have numerous logs that were cut last summer, I also have numerous trees that have been downed for years that are in the patch of woods behind my house.
I did manage to grab one huge maple log that appeared to have lots of color in the center, pink/blue. I painted the ends last year and stacked it on top of some other logs. I plan to rettrieve that one in the next few days and bring into the shop for the winter. I'll grab a locust log as well.
I have NO idea how to handle these, and I just planned to experiment with them by trying to quarter saw them into more manageable sizes. If anything looked good and clean, I would send to someone to have resawn. Anyway, that was the only plan I had.

Here's the link to the thread on the Luthierforum: Grant Goltz Sawing Logs into Billets

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

I just registered there--waiting to get acces to teh thread.

Grant was cutting up Black Ash...not Black Locust. Huge difference.

[QUOTE=Gasawdust] Grant was cutting up Black Ash...not Black Locust. Huge difference.[/QUOTE]

Hi Gasawdust,

I only meant it as pointing out a tutorial on how to optimize and cut logs into billets. I was thinking this is applicable to many species (though I suspect Black Locust would be more difficult to cut, I would think the sequence of steps would be the same.)

Near the end of that thread, Grant cuts some curly White (Burr) Oak, using the same sequence.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Grant sure does make it look easy. I'm dying to try it out-----Snick

Hi Dennis,
I saw that but I just wanted to point it out unless others thought that Black Locust was a good choice for this technique. Without a doubt it is one of the hardest woods to cut or to work, after curing, that I have ever experienced.

Tom

Hi Tom,

Is there a better technique for making billets from extremely hard hardwoods, like Black Locust or Osage Orange? Some of these folks may have a tree, and a chainsaw, but no real access to a Woodmizer or other big saw. Should they just be prepared to have it take forever to saw through the log, and maybe have a spare (sharp) chain on hand? Or is there another method?

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

[QUOTE=DennisLeahy] Here's the link to the thread on the Luthierforum: Grant Goltz Sawing Logs into Billets

Dennis[/QUOTE]
Be sure to go to page 2 of that link. The second post down shows my friend, Bruce with his 48" bar chainsaw doing it right. And I think cutting the big curly oak log might be on a later page.

This will work on black locust. The key is to have a really sharp chain, correctly sharpened. One does not handle the chain on Bruce's saw without thick gloves.

Grant

Dennis,
I really can't answer your question. Just trying to make a point based on some experience with Black Locust. If you try it, good luck, and let me know how it turns out.

Grant,
I defer to your expertise.

regards,
Tom