Reclaimed American Chestnut

[tomsm44]

I'm hoping to try making a glass bow (my first bow of any kind), probably sometime this spring.  I've asked a few questions on here already and gotten some really good information and advice.  I like the take down longbow design that Kennym was working on recently and hopefully can get him to sell me a pattern for it.  I've heard a lot of good things about him and will likely try to get my supplies from him, even if I end up going with a Bingham blueprint.  

Here's the question I have now.  I found some reclaimed American chestnut flooring recently that is absolutely beautiful.  If I were to get a few pieces of it, how well would it work for lams in a glass bow?  If it isn't a very good performing limb wood, would it glue well enough to at least use as vaneers on the limbs.  I don't know if the source that I found will have any left when I get ready to start buying materials, but I am trying to plan ahead and thought this would make a nice looking and very unique bow.

[KellyG]

WOW I am not sure anyone on here is old enough to answer that question. I would make on just because I doubt if there will be very many made of american chestnut for sure.

[Pat B]

You should not have a problem if using it in a glass lam bow.
  Many old barns were masde with American Chesnut. That might be where your supplier got it from.

[Robertfishes]

If it was  house flooring would it have wax or some kind of oil finish on it?

[Pat B]

You will want to cut it into lams and sand then smooth then you woulk be eliminating any oil or wax that may have been applied.

[tomsm44]

It was t&g flooring.  I am sure it probably had either an oil or wax finish.  That was one of my main concerns.  I may end up with some waste, if there was an oil finish that penetrated below the surface, but I'm thinking the wood in the center of the board would be ok.  I looked up the physical proberties online, and it is similar to elm or ash, only slightly lighter and slightly lower strength, so I think it would be acceptable as far as performance goes.  Wouldn't be a speed freak, but I'm not trying to break any records.  Most people don't shoot longbows for there speed anyway.  I'll keep an eye on his stash and hopefully he'll still have some when I get ready to get started.  I've never made a bow before, so I don't know anything about making my own lams.  Do any of you know where I could get it cut into lams?  Would Kennym possibly be willing to cut it for me if I end up using him for my glass and other supplies?  That would add a little to the cost if I had to ship it to somebody, but it would probably be worth it to have something that nobody else has.  Thanks for the input.