Sawing beam question

[welderskelter]

I am going to saw a couple beams for my 4 wheel wagon style trailer. They will be 16 ft. long but what I need to know is whether to saw so I leave the pith in the center of the beams or not. I am sawing black ash. Help.

[WDH]

Unless the log is large enough to saw the beams without the pith or juvenile core in them, it is better to box the juvenile core with the pith centered.  If the juvenile core is not boxed and centered in the beam, i.e. it is all on one side of the beam, the beam will crook and side bend badly.  That is why you should never split the pith when sawing beams.

So, the size of the log is a critical determining factor in whether there is enough wood outside the juvenile core to make the beam of a size that you need 

[Larry]

My first thought was the same as WDH.

My second thought is really off the wall.  If one were to keep the pith on one edge you would expect the beam to have lots of warp.  One could use that warp as built in camber.  Would make the beam a lot stronger.  Ever look at a 18 wheeler flatbed and notice the camber in the bed?

No idea if I'm right, just a thinking.

[Don P]

On soap box derby cars that "spring" makes for a better performing car. Higher strength and grade is going to be outside of the reaction wood. Prior to reading Larry's idea I was envisioning putting the curves in an hourglass configuration horizontally and pulling across the bed with allthread at each end using the bolsters to make it straight.

[welderskelter]

Thanks guys. That was what I was thinking but thought I needed a second or third opinion. Thanks again.