Black Locust

derekdarling · Post by **derekdarling** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:51 am

Hi all, just picked up some newly-cut Black Locust. I have a couple of pieces about 6" dia and 5' long, and several other pieces same dia and only a couple of feet long.

I am thinking of slicing the longer pieces into planks, have to build a jig for the bandsaw.

I only have time to paint the ends and put it all away, but i was wondering if anyone has worked with this wood.

Pics tomorrow, when the sun's out.

Derek

shipwright · Post by **shipwright** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:29 am

I have some on my boat Derek. I used it in places it is traditionally used like deadeyes and mooring chocks. For the non-sailors, these are places that call for very hard wood that will resist wear under extreme conditions. It is a lovely yellowish color and is hard as nails. It turns and works well for such a hard wood. I really like it.
[ATTACH]16878[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]16879[/ATTACH]

Paul M

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:36 am

Growing up I used tons and tons of it but sadly only as fence post on the farm. Back when we had dairy cattle, beef cattle and lots of hogs it seemed all we ever did was make hay, cultivate corn/beans and build fence...

Black locust is the second most durable fence post material that was available here after hedge. Hedge has become a thing of the past since there are no longer "hedge row fences" and any of it you find now is mostly just scrubby stuff. Third is aromatic ceder (Juniper) and it is usually sawed into square (sort of square) post. Just this winter I pulled a few old hedge post that I know went in about the time of the Civil War.

We used to go to Morgan Monroe State Forest during the mid 1950's and get about an 8 ton load of Black Locust post very inexpensively (all cut by prison labor). We bought 3 or four loads like that. Most were 8' line post but we also bought longer and heavier post for end and corner post. It took a big post hole to set a 12" x 10' post to where about 54" stuck out of the ground.

Did I mention that my father was prone to over-do most things work related? He had an uncanny skill for taking any pleasant 20 minute job and making 2 hours to 2 days of drudgery out of it...

I learned my lesson, my son grew up on this farm enjoying it far more than I did. We worked hard but none of that silly attitude that if you are not miserable you are not working hard enough.
Dang! I just stretched and fell clear of of my rambling bench...

.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:04 pm

robinson46176 wrote:Growing up I used tons and tons of it but sadly only as fence post on the farm. Back when we had dairy cattle, beef cattle and lots of hogs it seemed all we ever did was make hay, cultivate corn/beans and build fence...
Black locust is the second most durable fence post material that was available here after hedge. Hedge has become a thing of the past since there are no longer "hedge row fences" and any of it you find now is mostly just scrubby stuff. Third is aromatic ceder (Juniper) and it is usually sawed into square (sort of square) post. Just this winter I pulled a few old hedge post that I know went in about the time of the Civil War.

We used to go to Morgan Monroe State Forest during the mid 1950's and get about an 8 ton load of Black Locust post very inexpensively (all cut by prison labor). We bought 3 or four loads like that. Most were 8' line post but we also bought longer and heavier post for end and corner post. It took a big post hole to set a 12" x 10' post to where about 54" stuck out of the ground. Did I mention that my father was prone to over-do most things work related? He had an uncanny skill for taking any pleasant 20 minute job and making 2 hours to 2 days of drudgery out of it...
I learned my lesson, my son grew up on this farm enjoying it far more than I did. We worked hard but none of that silly attitude that if you are not miserable you are not working hard enough.
Dang! I just stretched and fell clear of of my rambling bench...

.

I hope you were as successful at 'son raising' as he was!;)

derekdarling · Post by **derekdarling** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:55 pm

shipwright wrote:I have some on my boat Derek. I used it in places it is traditionally used like deadeyes and mooring chocks. .... It is a lovely yellowish color and is hard as nails. It turns and works well for such a hard wood. I really like it.

Paul M

Thanks for the info. I have it sealed and drying, but I might setup a jig to slice it into some planks, as well as bowl blanks.

I wish it was 12" in dia, but you work with what you get, I guess.

Derek