What is a black locust tree used for?

Common Uses: Fence posts, boatbuilding, flooring, furniture, mine timbers, railroad ties, turned objects, and veneer. Comments: Black Locust is a very hard and strong wood, competing with Hickory (Carya genus) as the strongest and stiffest domestic timber: but with more stability and rot resistance.

Accordingly, are black locust trees valuable?

Black Locust wood contains natural organic compounds that resist rot for 100 years or more, which makes these trees an extremely valuable and environmentally friendly tree. It is the perfect wood for fence and deck posts.

Likewise, is black locust good for woodworking? While that may be folklore, black locust is remarkable for its qualities of strength and durability. Fence posts have long been made from the very hard, strong and heavy wood of black locusts. Black locust's utilitarian uses exceed its use for furniture and cabinetry.

Accordingly, what is black locust lumber?

Black Locust is a sustainable, no maintenance alternative to endangered tropical hardwoods and chemically treated lumber. Black Locust, also known as Robinia Pseudoacacia, is a natural durable hardwood that will last for decades without any treatment.

What does a black locust look like?

You can identify black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia, hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8) by the 1-inch-long, white, fragrant flowers held in pendant clusters in the late spring. Leathery seed pods are about 2 to 4 inches long and dark red to black. The second tallest locust, it reaches 40 to 70 feet tall.

Is black locust hard to cut?

Black locust is hard but it's no harder than EAB killed ash and certainly not as hard as shag bark hickory . HELP!! Cutting green Black Locust with LPX chain NOT going so well.

Is locust wood good for anything?

Overall, locust is a great firewood to burn. By cutting down these rapidly growing trees you'll not only help control its invasive tendencies, but you'll keep your house very warm in the process. Black locust will produce 27.9 million BTU's per cord.

What's the difference between black locust and honey locust?

Both the black and honey locust have smooth, thin, shiny seedpods. But if you look at the seedpod, there are minor differences. The black locust has very simple compound leaves where honey locust trees have bipinnate compound leaves. New leaves also come out earlier in the honey locust than the black locust.

What eats black locust?

Seeds of the black locust are eaten by northern bobwhite quail, mourning dove, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail, and squirrels. White-tailed deer also eat the leaves and twigs. Many animals use this tree for cover.

Where is black locust found?

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), also known as false acacia, post locust and yellow, white or green locust, is a tree belonging to the pea (Fabaceae) family. It is native to the Appalachian Mountains and Ozark Plateau, with its native range reaching from central Pennsylvania to Alabama and Georgia.

How much are locust trees worth?

Re: pricing for locust logs The best grade hardwoods can bring up to $45.00/ton on the stump, but $25.00 is more common for most hardwood grade. $60.00/ton is a good bit above the southern market.

How much does black locust lumber cost?

Lumber Price List ~Band sawn walnut boards~

Black Locust	FAS	Lower Grades
4/4	$2.95	$1.75
5/4	$3.25	$2.00
6/4	$3.75	$2.55

How long will locust post last in the ground?

Locust might last for 20 years in a wet location; longer if dry. Treated pine may also be graded, so that you know the design strength. Certainly for ground contact, use treated pine.

How do you finish Black locust?

Recommended Finishes for Black Locust Lumber: As tung oil soaks into the pores, it will dry with a matte finish. All new cuts are coated with and End Sealer, called Anchor Seal. This will assist in the prevention of end checking.

Do locusts rot?

Black Locust has “high natural durability, is heavy and hard, but has a tricky kiln drying process,” said Noone. It's “not going to rot and is insect resistant.” Noone delved into the details of moisture content, and the process needed to achieve the desired content levels.

How many types of locust trees are there?

Though there are more than 20 species of locust trees, two species are very popular. They are black locust and honey locust trees.

Is locust wood rot resistant?

Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia) is the strongest and most rot resistant wood indigenous to North America. It makes an incredibly resilient and durable decking material that will remain beautiful and withstand years of outdoor exposure. Black Locust grows faster than any other known hardwood tree.

What is mahogany wood used for?

Mahogany is a commercially important lumber prized for its beauty, durability, and color, and used for paneling and to make furniture, boats, musical instruments and other items.

Is Ash a hardwood?

Ash wood flooring, as you would imagine, comes from ash trees. Ash woods that comes from the deciduous species of the tree are particularly hard, in fact they are even harder than oak, but they are less resistant to moisture.

What is ipe wood?

Ipe (spelled ipe and pronounced “ee-pay”), also called Brazilian walnut, is a beautiful exotic wood from South America. Ipe wood structures are hard, strong, and naturally resistant to rot, abrasion, weather, and insects. It is almost twice as dense as most woods and up to five times harder.

Where is ipe wood grown?

Ipe is typically found growing in tropical South-Central America. It thrives in a variety of sites including marshes and riverbanks to high ridge tops. Ipe can grow to 140 feet in height and up to six feet in diameter. Ipe is one of the tallest trees in the Amazon region.

Do all locust trees have thorns?

Locust trees are simply described as deciduous trees that produce long, compound leaves, each of which has the ability to sprout a total of 21 leaflets. There are many of its species that are often armed with thorns which are typically almost three inches in length.

What's a locust tree look like?

Locust trees are resilient, deciduous trees that are part of the pea family of plants. Their identifying characteristics include thorns on the trunk and lower branches, early blooming white flowers that grow in clusters, and reddish-brown pea pods.