Ken - That stick went into a colleague's frame which I nick-named the "Hex-o-Cruck"

I put up the above picture and one of the frame a year ago now -

http://www.tfguild.org/forums/ubbthreads...h=true#Post5791

It was bookmatched, and they were used a set of 'modified' arched braces.

I'll put up another when I get home, stay tuned for scribe -

The tension wood issue (at least in EWP) hasn't been as great as I'd expected - have only found one piece ever, unuseable.

As Tim suggests - Dry is in part how to achive stability, starting with winter cut it drys in small scantling (most braces)in a season.

Tim, agreed TTRAG was a hoot, and it's always good to put another face to a name.