Thanks for the kind words Ken,
One other neat factoid I came across while reading some time ago. Archers seek tension wood, that rubbery G layer makes a more elastic bow. They've been seeking out tension wood for alot longer than we've had microscopes. I'd appreciate it if you kind of kept an eye out for where the oldtimers used spiral grain, were they "placing" it?
Thinking about a spiral grain compression member, I think I'd rather have spiral in compression than tension or bending. I think we're talking about loads that would be way above "allowable". Would it tend to buckle sooner in a taller more slender column than straight grain? Kinda like trying to push a slinky down, it wouldn't take as much for it to squirt out the side?
I guess with a short enough column maybe checks might move a little, but then would you crush whatever is delivering that load before the checks think about closing?
