Have you ever put catalpa wood lams in a glass bow? Its VERY light weight,so would make a fast limb,how long would it last???
Thanks,Kenny

A good question, come on there has to be some answers out there.

Car

try it and find out....Kenny can you post a pic of it?

Sal,I don't have the board,saw some at the kiln,couldn't believe how lightweight it was,trouble is,it's 80 miles away!

I have wondered about this wood too Kenny. I is often planted in groves near homesteads and was used for fence posts - like osage, black locust, eastern red cedar and even yew. See a pattern here?

What is this connection between rot and insect resistance and good bow wood?

I built one for a fella back in the 90's when I was building bows.  It was a laminated  clear glass straight limbed longbow.  The guy brought the wood to me and I made the laminations myself(three pair lam longbows).  Seems his Great grandfather had planted it on the family homestead back in the 1800's and for whatever reason it was being cut down and it had sentemental value to this guy so he wanted a bow from it.  At first I was leary, it was just feather light and I wasn't sure if it would hold up. He said build it anyway and that he wouldn't hold me to any warranties if anything happend to it or him.  Machineing the lams was like powder comming off them instead of sawdust it was so light and dry.  It was very porius on glue up and the glue (smooth on) just sucked into it, so much so I was afraid I might end up with a void under the clear glass (be liberal with your glue).  But it turned out ok!  In fact I ran into the guy just a couple months ago and he said it was still shooting good after 10 years!

they have good catfish bait in them too. (worms that live in the tree)

Yep Shaun,I was lookin at that very pattern. It is so light,that is what is intriguing me with it.
Thank you stump man!! Next trip to the kiln I will have a couple boards of it! The sawdust powder sounds like cedar and a bowyer just told me he really likes the way cedar shoots! I just cleared a fencerow of it and laid the trees where the old gentleman could cut posts out of it,so I may have to go buy a couple logs off him!

Thanks again guys!

We have "katawba" trees around my Dad's and Grandpa's place in south GA, but haven't seen any worms in probably 10 years.  We used to fish with them on poles and trot lines, but my guess is that pesticides did them in my area.  It's a shame, cause they're pretty caterpillars and great fishbait.  I'd love to see a pic of the bow made from this wood.  I can sure appreciate how the fella who had his made feels about it.  Homesick  :(   But I'm leaving crazy FL and heading up to God's country in the morning!  Tge

A lot of the catalpa trees were planted for fence post as they grow fast and straight.. However they rot in the ground just about as fast.. Because they dry so light and hard, they do make good gate posts, and will last years when not stuck in the ground.
I love the fragrance of their flower, and in the winter I have seen deer feeding on the fallen leaves quite often.. they look like they are eating a pancake when they chew on one.

I grew up with  catalpa trees in my backyard. They sure didn't seem very straight or strong. You might make a veneer for lams but they don't seem to be a very good choice.

Mine weren't very straight or strong either owlbait.  They grow along the creek banks in places here.  I know where there are a few groves people keep for the worms.  Most of those trees are trimmed to keep them short.