Replies

1. 
   smslaw | Apr 05, 2007 10:25pm | #1

   It is very durable outside and makes great fence posts.

2. 
   woodman2263 | Apr 05, 2007 11:16pm | #2

   DR,

   I have a "ton" of locust that I sawed last year in my barn.  Let me know if you want some pic's to see what it looks like.  It is extremely hard wood.  My Woodmizer definately worked that day.

   Jeff

3. 
   Tommo | Apr 05, 2007 11:56pm | #3

   Don't burn it. It has some great character. Good for tool handles. Turns reasonably well.

4. 
   fussy | Apr 06, 2007 01:34am | #4

   Is it blacklocust or honey locust?  Black locust is almost bullet-proof outside.  Great for fence posts, or split-rail fence rails.  Honey locust is considerably softer, but still very hard and stron with nice color and grain.  Good choice for furniture.

   Steve

   There are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.

   1.  Let her think she's having her own way.

   2.  Let her have her own way. President  Lyndon Baines Johnson

5. 
   joinerswork | Apr 06, 2007 01:55am | #5

   Dr,

   As mentioned, locust is very durable in exterior use, as fencing for example.  It is also excellent firewood, especially for open hearth or campout cooking, as it tends to go to coals quickly, and yields heat for a long time afterwards. Hard on tool edges, but splits well when green.

   Ray

1. 
   AndyE | Apr 06, 2007 02:01am | #6

   I recall hearing that locust fenceposts can sprout root and branches. Know of any truth to that?I still hack off the suckers that sprout from a black locust stump that was cut about 7 years ago. At the time I thought it would deteriorate. Now I think it will outlast me.Andy

1. 
   joinerswork | Apr 06, 2007 03:50pm | #9

   Andy,

   Farmers around here claim jokingly that if you don't plant a seasoned locust post upside down from the way it grew, it'll sprout come spring.  Locust is one of those "weed" trees that have amazing vitality.  Ailanthus and weeping willow are others.  I have a willow tree behind the shop that is growing out of a piece of firewood.  It sprouted and took root before I got it stacked; cut from a tree that came down in a storm, it lay in a pile all winter.  Come spring, there it was.  I was so amazed that I let it grow as a curiousity.  Reminds me of Quasimodo, a tree with a chunk of firewood on its back.  "The bells, the bells!!"

   Ray

1. 
   AndyE | Apr 06, 2007 06:33pm | #15

   I have found that black walnut will also sprout after being cut. I had some logs in the front yard for a few months before being milled and many of them sprouted branches along their lengths. I didn't think to check at the time if it was the stump sections or higher up the tree.Andy

   
1. 
   joinerswork | Apr 06, 2007 08:18pm | #16

   Andy,

   Then there's the Eric Sloane story about the apple tree that ended up several hundred feet from where it was planted on a hillside, by falling over and resprouting several times.  The "Seek-no further" I believe it was called.

   Ray

6. 
   KeithNewton | Apr 06, 2007 03:56am | #7

   I think it is an excellent wood. It is about the same color as teak, and just as decay and insect resistant. However it is not as desirable for boats, because it weighs about twice as much,

   As others have stated fence post, it will last 50 years, or longer, but can be used for anything outdoors, and never need finishing. It is bright gold when freshly cut green, but will turn a nice warm yellow brown, and has a nice medullar ray fleck when Q-sawn.

1. 
   EdHarrow | Apr 06, 2007 05:18am | #8

   I've read of it being used for frames for wood boats.  It supposedly steams well (for bending).

2. 
   JeffHeath | Apr 06, 2007 05:39pm | #14

   Keith

   I have what I think is a locust right in the location where I am planning on building a structure to house a sawmill.  It has thorns (2 to 3 inches long and reddish in color) all over it.  I know you saw wood also.  What are the characteristics of locust for working it, say for furniture?  Would you recommend it as a candidate to be milled, or just used for exterior?  Also, is it a good candidate for beams for a timber frame construction for an exterior building?  Lastly, how do you tell the difference between black locust and honey locust?  I've got several of them growing around my property.

   Thanks,

   Jeff

1. 
   KeithNewton | Apr 07, 2007 04:03am | #19

   Hi Jeff, Black-locust has stickers on the twigs about the same size as blackberry bushes. If your tree has big thorns, that branch out and are mostly on the smaller limbs, but some on the trunk, they your most likely have honey locust. The beans on the honey locust are much larger, and are sweet, but leave a bitter after-taste, and may be up to about a foot long. The beans on BL are small about the size of your finger, only flat. The flower cluster is like a pea-blossom, in a grape like cluster. They are white, and in bloom now in AR.The wood of honey-locust is much more coarse in texture, and does not have the decay and insect resistance of black-locust. I am not too fond of it myself, but you might like it. Even if a tree is free, and you have a mill, there is still a lot of work in turning it into usable lumber. Good luck, K

7. 
   JMartinsky | Apr 06, 2007 05:07pm | #10

   Dear Dr,
   My Dad had a small locust cut down. I am assuming that it is a honey. Thorns anyone...YIKES! The wood is tough and burns very hot. I wouldn't want to split it by hand. It is some tough stuff.

   Best,

   John

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/6/2007 3:06 pm ET by Jmartinsky

8. 
   vincentedwards | Apr 06, 2007 05:24pm | #11

   ANYTHING that has to stand the test of outdoor conditions is a perfect canditate for black locust. Outdoor furniture, birdfeeders, fences, etc etc. It's a bit yellow, from my experiece, but not a bad wood to work with.

   I would look for a project where there is some advantage to using a hardwood as opposed to ceder in an outdoor location, such as some nice outdoor chairs, or a swing.

   I know the rot resistance is better than white oak... probably akin to mahogany but in a heavier wood.

9. 
   outyonder | Apr 06, 2007 05:32pm | #12

   As other have posted it's good for fence post and I've heard they use to build wooden bridges out of it.

    When I was building my shop I used a couple of logs for supporting my loft area, see attachment.

   Don

   
1. 
   outyonder | Apr 06, 2007 05:37pm | #13

   Sorry I didn't resize the second photo correctly.

   
1. 
   EdHarrison | Apr 07, 2007 06:39pm | #21

   That is really cool. A woodshop version of the garden "green man," is what it reminds me of. I'd like to copy that idea and build something like that into my own shop some day, maybe pushing the envelope on my carving skills, if you don't mind. Ed

1. 
   outyonder | Apr 07, 2007 08:59pm | #22

   hi Ed,

   I did not carve the face, it is store bought casting, the eyes are seprate from the nose and mouth. I liked it and thought it would at a little humor in the Shop.

10. 
    pickdesign | Apr 06, 2007 09:22pm | #17

    From my perspective, black locust that has been air dryed to 8-10% MC is good for working in furniture.  It is a VERY hard wood.  It machines well, but don't try carving it.  it splits easily and tends to follow the grain.  I had a piece of crotch wood that I got through an auction, it had air dried for over 10 years when I got my hands on it.  This piece was re-sawn from 10/4 stock, and stayed flat and true.  The sides of the box were milled to 3/8" thickness.  Worked well with the walnut.  I don't think black locust has the thorns, that would be honey locust.

    Steve

    
1. 
   Kevin | Apr 06, 2007 09:44pm | #18

   Oh, very nice. It does contrast very nicely with the Walnut. It has lots of character too. I like!

11. 
    stevo1952 | Apr 07, 2007 05:01am | #20

    One of our parks got a Thai Pavilion given to them and built a bridge from black locust. I bought some air dried lumber from the supplier and built 6 garden chairs. It was as mentioned, very hard, but worked nice and looked beautiful when finished. The chairs have held up nicely so far after a couple of years. I would whole heartedly recommend it for outside furniture.

    Stevo