Did I mention that black locust pegs make great chisel handles too?!

-Thomas

In peg testing conducted at the University of Wyoming, we were able to directly correlate the strength of a peg in a mortise and tenon joint to the specfic gravity (density of the peg). In essence, the densier the peg, the stronger the joint.

And, the shear values listed on the Center of Wood Anatomy Research are parallel to grain values, not perpendicular to grain, which is how pegs are loaded.

Hope this helps,

Joe

I don't know if shearing strength is the most impotant issue. But I'll put locust at the top of my list for strength any which way. The factor I think that is at least as critical as shearing is rot resistance ! The reason the fore fathers used locust was it was the best suited for the job (white oak is on the short list too). Splits great, decay resistance high, wicked shear properties. I,d advise horn beam if you got it would be fine.( maybe use some borax,as suggest earlier. Use what you got. Right?