Is locust wood a hardwood or a softwood?
Very strong in bending and durable when in contact with the ground. is a locust tree hardwood or softwood? The black locust tree is a hardwood but it's unique because it grows faster than most softwoods. Even though the tree grows extremely fast, it still produces tough, dense, heavy firewood.
Are black locust trees any good for firewood?
Black locust is definitely a great choice for firewood, but dealing with the actual black locust tree can be an entirely different experience. Locust is known for having sharp spines near the leaves. These spines can make handing the wood difficult so wearing a nice pair of leather gloves or latex dipped gloves is important.
How hard is locust wood?
Locust wood is hard and strong. That is why it competes with Hickory, which is stiffer than the rest of hardwood. Strong wood tolerates changes in humidity, and it is more important than grain direction. Grain direction is not only your consideration. That does not compromise the beauty of the wood.
Is honey locust wood good for firewood?
In many ways, honey locust is much more similar to the Kentucky coffee tree and the water locust. Generally speaking, honey locust wood can make good firewood. Even though it is not the most popular type to throw in a campfire, you certainly won’t go wrong with it. It has a relatively good BTU rating, and it is incredibly dense.
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Is black locust wood valuable?
Prices for these products range from $1 – $3 per linear foot for whole posts, and from $1.50 – $3.50/board foot for milled lumber, which is far above the prices for most conventional hardwood lumber.
Is black locust harder than oak?
Is Black Locust harder than oak? Black Locust wood is harder than White Oak. We measure hardness of wood with the Janka Hardness scale: the higher the number the tougher the wood. Black Locust wood's Janka hardness scale is 1,700 lbf (7,560 N) compared to White Oak Janka hardness scale of 1,360 (6,000 N).
Is locust wood good for anything?
Common Uses Honey locust wood makes excellent furniture, and it may also be used to create sturdy fence posts. It is useful as utility lumber. Some woodworkers like turning honey locust for various projects.
Is black locust wood good for building?
Black Locust wood is the perfect type of wood for residential and urban green space Decking projects as well. We see an increase in using Black Locust lumber in green building projects. Black Locust wood is naturally durable, rot-resistant, and maintenance-free.
What is the hardest wood to cut with a chainsaw?
Here, we list the top 10 hardest woods in the world, and provide a bit of information about each type:Lignum vitae – 4,500 IBF. ... Piptadenia Macrocarpa – 3,840 IBF. ... Snakewood – 3,800 IBF. ... Brazilian Olivewood – 3,700 IBF. ... Brazilian Ebony – 3,692 IBF. ... Brazilian Walnut – 3,684 IBF. ... African Pearwood – 3,680 IBF.More items...
What is the strongest tree wood in the world?
Meier's own list ranks quebracho, with a Janka score of 4,570 lbf, as the hardest wood in the world. Quebracho is found in Paraguay and Argentina.
Is black locust safe to burn?
Like other hardwoods, black locust creates a low amount of smoke. In fact, black locust produces even less smoke than different types of popular firewood commonly used in people's homes. Black locust creates very few sparks and is safe to burn indoors and outdoors.
Can you burn locust wood in a wood stove?
If you use a wood stove and are concerned about the fire getting too hot (which is possible with black locust) mix it in with other wood and don't fill the wood stove completely with locust.
Can you burn black locust wood in a fireplace?
Black Locust burns longer than other types of wood as well. It also makes the most excellent coals. Black Locust firewood is perfect for throwing into the fireplace for overnight burning.
Do termites eat black locust?
Seven other exotic timbers, teak, iroko, mahogany, Australian cypress pine, niove, greenheart, and holywood lignumvitae were found to be most resistant to termite damage, while two types of oak, black locust, Osage-orange, and redwood proved to be the most termite-resistant domestic timbers.
Is black locust harder than hickory?
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.
How long does black locust lumber last?
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.
Is locust the hardest wood?
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. Nothing beats Black Locust for sustainability and durability.
Is black locust harder than hickory?
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.
What is the hardest oak tree?
Common red oak has a Janka hardness of 1220 lbf, meaning it takes 1220 pounds of force to drive the steel ball halfway into the wood. For reference, soft balsa wood requires only 67 lbf and the hardest wood in the world, Australian Buloke, has a Janka hardness of 5060 lbf.
What is the hardest wood in Texas?
The state tree of Texas, rich in character and among the hardest native woods in the United States.
How strong is Black Locust Wood?
The Black Locust is a really tough guy – with such remarkable strength being transferred to its lumber. This wood boasts a hardness value of 1700 lbf on the Janka scale.
What is Black Locust wood made from?
Black Locust wood is derived from the Black Locust tree. Scientifically known as Robinia pseudoacacia, the Black Locust tree originates from the Appalachian Mountain range.
How well does Black of Locust wood last?
What if we told you that the Black of Locust wood could last up to 100 years without rotting?
Where is Black Locust Wood Grown?
While black locust wood can be found all over the world, it’s most often sourced from China. The climate there is perfect for producing strong and durable wood.
Common Black Locust Wood Uses
There are many reasons to love and use black locust wood. For one, it’s incredibly strong and durable. In fact, it’s often used as a construction material for buildings.
Fuel
As a strong, durable wood, Black Locust is an extremely good source of fuel for homeowners. Because Black Locus is rot-resistant and grows abundantly, it’s an excellent tree for firewood.
Black Locust Wood Appearance
As we mentioned before, black locust wood has a beautiful golden color. Over time, this color will deepen to a rich brown or black.
Black Locust Wood Strength
Black locust wood is often chosen for projects that require a high degree of strength and toughness. This type of wood is very resistant to decay and termites, but it is also relatively easy to work with. It has a beautiful grain and is often used in furniture and cabinetry.
Black Locust Wood Durability
Another reason black locust wood is often used in construction projects is that it is highly durable. It can withstand the outdoor elements very well and has a high resistance to moisture, fire damage, and insect infestations.
Black Locust Wood Sustainability
The sustainability of black locust wood is a hot topic among forestry professionals. This is due in part to the black locust tree’s rapid growth rate, as well as its resistance to pests and diseases. Black locust also has a long lifespan, making it an attractive option for sustainable forestry initiatives.
What is the difference between honey locust and black locust?
Black Locust tends to be slightly heavier, harder, and with more of a green or yellow tinge, while Honey Locust tends to have a warmer orange or red tint. Scans/Pictures: A special thanks to Steve Earis for providing the wood sample of this wood species. Black Locust (sanded)
What color is a honey locust?
Color/Appearance: Color can range from a pale greenish-yellow to a darker brown. Tends to darken to a russet brown with age. Can be confused with Osage Orange and Honey Locust in some instances. Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight, with a medium texture.
Is white oak a CITES species?
In other areas where the lumber has been imported, the prices can be much higher. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.
Is rot resistant wood good for weathering?
Rot Resistance: Rated as very durable in regard to decay resistance, with good weathering characteristics. Frequently used as fence posts for its outdoor longevity.
Is black locust a wood?
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.
Why is a locust so strong?
Because a locust's trunk contains mostly sapwood, it 's strong. In drying, locust hardly shrinks. In stiffness, it outdoes hickory. Fighting decay, it outlasts white oak. Burned, a cord of black locust throws off the heat of a ton of coal. And machined and sanded, the wood takes on a high luster.
Where did black locusts originate?
You see, a variety of black locust, caringly cultivated in the late 18th century in New Jersey and New York-especially Long Island-earned renown. The tree's straight, branchless trunk proved perfect for shipmasts. Even today in the area, you can still find examples of those once sought after "shipmast locusts.".
What is the best locust for fence posts?
Black Locust. Black locust excels in hardness and durability, so pioneers cut it for fence posts. Shipbuilders, though, preferred it for masts. When English naturalist Mark Catesby first visited Jamestown, Virginia, 100 years after its founding, he saw only the stark ruins of what the first inhabitants in 1602 had called home.
Why is black locust not commercial?
That's because in most of the areas where it grows the tree suffers from insect attack, leaving few trees sound enough to harvest.
Why did other colonists eventually learn of locust's longevitiy, too, because the?
Other colonists eventually learned of locust's longevitiy, too, because the tree became widely used. No wonder.
How to identify black locust?
1. By the Thorns. Black Locust is one of only a few species of trees in our area (Midwest USA) that grow thorns directly from the tree.
How to tell if a black locust is a tree?
Leaves are among the most common methods for identifying any type of tree. And for a Black Locust, you would look for a leaf that is alternate-compound.
What type of firewood is best for heating?
Black Locust is arguably THE best type of firewood you can burn for heating. It has an exceptional heat output of 29.3 million BTUs per cord of seasoned wood. In addition, Black Locust produces minimal smoke and high-quality coals capable of burning through the night.
How long does it take for black locust wood to dry?
In general, firewood will take at least 6-8 months to fully dry, and for denser hardwoods this process can take even longer. You should expect it to take 1 year or more to season Black Locust firewood.
Where do black locust thorns grow?
Black Locust is one of only a few species of trees in our area (Midwest USA) that grow thorns directly from the tree. In Black Locust, these thorns often grow near the point from which it’s leaves sprout. See the image below:
Why is wood used as a fuel for a wood stove?
For example, wood that has great coaling properties will work well as an overnight fuel in wood stoves, because the quality coals will help the fire stay hot through the night.
What is the best firewood to burn?
The top tier (top of the pyramid) is the absolute best firewood you can burn, whereas the bottom of the pyramid is the firewood that will still produce heat, but is not ideal because of low heat output, excessive smoke, difficulty splitting, or some other reason.
Why are locust trees used?
The tree has been used to support nutrition in other crops, from grains to other trees. Research has shown increases in nitrogen in barley grain crops interplanted with locust, and black walnuts interplanted with locust as “nurse” trees were shown to rapidly increase their growth.
How to grow black locust?
The sheep initially prune the lower limbs for feed, and we prune thicker branches to use for tree stakes, to plant more trees! We plant very close together (3 – 4 feet apart) so that over time, we can leave some trees as the overstory, while coppicing (cutting to the ground) and pollarding (cutting above browse height) the less straight ones to provide longer-term fodder reserves for the sheep. Eventually we can harvest some posts and poles, as well.
What is the pest that attacks trees?
Brett Chedzoy / CCE. Black locust logs. The most common pest is the Locust borer ( Megacyllene robiniae) which most often attacks living, stressed trees, causing extensive damage to the quality of the wood. Identifying and removing infected trees can go a long way. It’s critical get to know the lifecycle of the pest.
Why do sage trees grow so fast?
Because it fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere, the trees grow incredibly fast (3 – 4 feet in a season) and can quickly become windbreaks, shelterbelts, and shade and shelter for animals in silvopasture grazing systems. The nutritional value of the leaves is similar to alfalfa, making it a valuable feed for ruminant livestock.
Where do black locust trees grow?
This tree, which has often been given a bad name for it’s opportunistic rapid growth and robust thorns, is said to be native originally to the Appalachian Mountain range, though it has become naturalized throughout the United States, southern Canada, and even parts of Europe and Asia.
Is black locust good?
If anything, Black locust is almost too good at what is does. All theses attributes have resulted in an extraordinarily high demand; both sellers of locust poles and lumber, as well as those in the nursery trade at the meeting reported not even coming close to meeting the demand for their products. There is a lot of room in the market for more farmers to grow, harvest, and sell black locust products in many parts of the region.
Is locust an invasive tree?
While some have named it an “invasive” tree given its rapid growth and willingness to spread by seed and root suckering, others see these characteristics as advantageous, if only populations are properly managed to harness these qualities. Make no mistake, locust is not a tree to plant and walk away from.
How tall is a black locust tree?
The black locust tree is medium-sized and can reach 80 feet in height. The paired spines and leaves of the black Locust are easily identifiable.
What type of wood has less sap?
Black Locust and most hardwood firewood have lower sap levels, producing less creosote than pine or other very sappy woods.
What is the best wood to burn for a fire?
Black Locust Firewood is a highly prized firewood alternative. Most people prefer to burn black locusts for their fire instead of more popular choices such as oak or ash. Black Locust has been known to burn more slowly and produce less smoke.
How to make firewood last longer?
The key to making this firewood last is seasoning it properly. If you’re not familiar with seasoning firewood, You can season firewood by stacking it where the sun can heat it and the wind can blow Through it.
What tree produces lots of BTUs when you burn it?
Black Locust produces lots of BTUs when you burn it, or British Thermal Unit as it’s commonly known. It is also a slow-growing, dense, and full-sized tree making it perfect for campfires and even for starting fires from home due to its slow growth and tight spacing.
What are broomsticks used for?
Long pieces of broomstick-sized pieces are used when making short firewood baskets. This makes it easier to control and spread the heat when using it as a source of heating.
How does the sun affect firewood?
One row of firewood should be exposed to the sun and the prevailing winds. The sun warms and evaporates water from the wood, and the wind blows it away .