Black walnut ?

[mark Willoughby]

Tell me about this wood .. Is it good bow wood or a heart break waiting to happen any do's or donts with it all input appreciated

[KenH]

Not  great bow wood, certainly, but OK in its place.  Depends on your application.  

As a self-bow ... not so much.  

As one lam among other better woods in a wood-wood composite, it's OK.

As one of a series of lams with fiberglass back and belly it's a nice color (the fiberglass provides 88% of the strength of a wood-glass composite bow..

[Krasus]

I like to use it in risers but not much else. Stained up with gun stock oil looks gorgeous.

[Pheonixarcher]

I use it in risers, overlays, accent stripes and veneers. I've heard it makes good core material when backed and faced with fiberglass or other better suited bow woods, but have yet to try that for myself. It's rather easy to work with, and looks great under finish. Curly, burl, or crotch material looks exceptionally stunning, but can be brittle and splinter easily.

[Roy from Pa]

I've used it as a core lam between Osage and bamboo. Gives a nice color contrast. Used it in risers too, kind of open grain wood. Curly walnut makes a beautiful riser.

[Wolftrail]

I have used it between maple for a power lam.  So far no problems over 350 shots..

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=013453

[chackworth3]

I have used it as veneers and in risers that I reinforced with glass with no issues. I have also heard it makes a really good core wood with fiberglass bows because it is light but I have never used it. If you get a nice piece of burl or curly stuff it looks great under glass

[David Flanrey]

I have used it as core wood in glass long bows and have had very good success.  I also have used it in risers and as veneers.

I used it a couple times as belly wood in trilam and both failed.

[breazyears]

What kenh said.lol.

[Walt Francis]

I have used it for both veneers and risers in glass bows without any problems.  I highly recommend you use some stronger material/wood for stripes/support in the riser.  I had a custom Marriah built by Rick and insisted it not have anythig but a solid piece of walnut, despite his warnings and knowing up front he wouldn't warranty it.   You can guess what happened 9 months later, it cracked.  He made me another one at a discount and refused to take full payment for it.

[mark Willoughby]

Thanks for all the input guys