Author Topic: dumb question: honey locust or black locust? (Read 2129 times)

Dan_Shade · « **on:** December 03, 2005, 11:37:41 pm »

I sawed up a few logs today, that I thought were honey locust, but upon further review, i'm now thinking they were black locust.

no thorns on the trunk of the logs:

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2005, 11:44:05 pm »

the specks on that top picture are from a few rain spots, also the bark on this stuff was starting to go south, where it was on the ground, it smelled somewhere between horse manure and that intestine smell you get when gutting something. at first I thought my dog did his thing upwind

LeeB · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2005, 01:37:52 am »

not a dumb question to me. I couldn't tell you what either one is.

LeeB

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2005, 07:27:26 am »

Looks like black locust to me. Honey locust has a reddish heartwood, where black locust has more of a yellowish. If you have a black light, shine it on the wood. Black locust will "glow".

Not all locust have thorns. I've seen a lot of smooth honey locust. The thorns have been bred out of them long ago for ornamental use.

Kirk_Allen · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2005, 08:33:08 am »

Definatly a Black Locust if Honey and Black are the only choices. Honey Locust bark is not near as rough as Black Locust.

I have seen ornamental honey locust that when planted they did not have thorns but the seeds from that tree produced thorn bearing honey locust. Is that Gods way of saying leave my work alone

pigman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2005, 09:03:44 am »

Looks exactly like the black locust we have here in KY. Most are used for fence posts.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2005, 09:41:10 am »

what "other" choices could I have, kirk?

this stuff was hard and heavy.

I sawed that 2" stuff out to put down on my open deck car trailer, afterwards, I think I shoulda sawed it to 5/4 or 6/4 instead of 8/4

Corley5 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:01:24 am »

We've got a locust tree of some sort in the barnyard and have always wondered what variety it is. It does have thorns

. I'll get some pics of it of course the leaves are long gone now

logger · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:29:29 am »

It is definetly black locust, I have a million of those trees up at my place. They spread like weeds. I cut alot of it, definetly black locust. Very hard on chains when dead.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:34:17 am »

it's hard, but locust is so durable, I don't mind having some. great for building stuff that will be outside. I like getting "junk" wood

oakiemac · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:44:26 am »

From the pictures and your description of the smell I would say Black locust. I cut some a few summers ago and it smelled like cow manure.

Modat22 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2005, 07:25:15 pm »

That be black locust, its really good furniture wood, I call it junk mahogany but its a real pretty good and durable as heck.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2005, 03:56:53 pm »

black locust up here are smooth barked, but are non native.

Daren · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2005, 10:07:15 pm »

There is nothing "junk" about locust. It IS hard on tires trying to harvest it with the thorns. I have built tons of patio furniture from it, very pretty and I will never get the call saying it is going bad. Awfull hard on tools, but I practically beg for it. I can't hardly pay what the firewood price is (it burns like coal) so much goes to the Amish for firewood. I guess I look at things a little different, but locust and hedge are 2 trees I hate to see go to the wood pile, I can make some great stuff from them. I know posting pics from an outside site has become a no-no here, but check this link out from my website. It is a pic of a patio set I built for a customer from black locust. Long Link
It will outlast all of us.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2005, 10:16:17 pm »

that's what I meant, Daren... it's unfortunate that it's value is so "unknown"

Daren · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2005, 10:39:32 pm »

Dan, we know it's value. So do these people http://www.blacklocust.org/workshops/ . I am not a ship builder, or bridge builder... just a furniture maker and they think pretty highly of the stuff.

Modat22 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2005, 08:17:53 am »

I've talked to many wood workers and they refer to locust as the US's best kept wood secret. Most woodworkers love the stuff and substitute locust for mahogany when they can get it.

When I used the term junk mahogany when referring to locust I use the term in a good way. Locust is beautiful lumber.

LeeB · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2005, 06:41:12 pm »

I have learned something on here. I saw my first locust the other day and was able to identify it by the stuff I've picked up on this foruim.LeeB

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2005, 06:44:32 pm »

join the club, Lee. I've learned a lot around here!

hawkeye · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2005, 08:53:43 pm »

You do have Black Locust "Robinia pseudoacocia" aka Yellow Locust in some locals because of the color of the wood. It saws easy if you cut it while it is still green. It makes a great fence post and the quail love the seeds. If you have a bee keeper in your area have them put a hive near the trees when they are in bloom, the honey is excellent.

chassawyers · « **Reply #20 on:** March 09, 2006, 07:29:42 pm »

I saw you post and just had to have a look. Locust is one of my favorites!

I was cutting some osage orange recently in a grown up old pasture and there were some big locust in a burn pile! I begged to take possession and salvage them. I was granted salvage rights.

These have a diameter of about 24" and at least two good cuts of 10 feet each. The trunks are loaded with the most vicious thorn clusters you ever saw...6-10" nasties! Internal wood is redish brown with white sap wood.

I spent an hour looking up exactly what species my tree was. Lots of sites but nothing definitive. I can tell you from my research my tree is definitely either black or honey locust (all humor intended). Your tree looks like the ones in my yard. Mine do not smell bad though (no comment). They have nice little white flowers with a sweet honey smell.

One thing I can say fer sure is I love the locust. I quarter saw all my hardwoods and the locust is excellent. I am hoping for enough to do a floor. I fill the imperfections with clear epoxy and sand smooth. I think of it as having the durability of oak and the toughness of hickory. You will love it the more you use it...chas

Modat22 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 10, 2006, 08:52:32 am »

I think of locust (ether honey or black) as american mahogany, great stuff for furniture (just make sure you pre-drill everything)

Daren · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2006, 07:37:44 pm »

Quote from: Modat22 on March 10, 2006, 08:52:32 am

(just make sure you pre-drill everything)

If not you will be digging out broken off screws, it'll snap the heads right off. I just got dibs on a decent load today. The city is doing some work at our sewer treatment plant. They have to expand into the timber and do some clearing to set manholes etc. I went out with the city guy and marked what I wanted. Some decent locust, good and straight but not very big and a couple nice sycamore. He will cut them and bring them to me, we work together alot.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #23 on:** March 10, 2006, 07:45:23 pm »

I had to do that with white ash also. I was using brass screws on one project and there was no way to get them all the way in without a pre-drill.

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Author Topic: dumb question: honey locust or black locust? (Read 2129 times)

Kirk_Allen