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.
Is black locust wood good for anything?
– Food for honeybees. In Hungary, black locust is the basis of commercial honey production (Keresztesi 1977). – High-density, rot resistant wood, ideal material for fenceposts, hope poles, outdoor furniture, decks, and other projects that require weatherproof materials (McLane 2004).
Is black locust considered a hardwood?
Black Locust wood is a hardwood with a Janka hardness scale of 1,700 lbf (7,560 N).
Is black locust wood poisonous?
The Black Locust inner bark, roots, and twigs are poisonous to livestock, especially horses, and can be fatal. The seed is poisonous to humans.Is black locust wood expensive?
But it’s worth it: Beyond the sustainability benefits, black locust is also cost-effective. In bulk, it’s $5.44 per square foot, while ipe is more than $7 per square foot.
Does black locust tree make good firewood?
One lesser-known tree that makes great firewood is black locust. … Not surprisingly, the same density and durability that makes black locust good for fence posts also makes it among the best firewood trees.
Are black locust trees worth money?
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.
Is black locust toxic to touch?
A black locust planted too close to a walkway or high-traffic area of your yard could easily scratch or poke at passersby. Although being scratched by the tree isn’t poisonous, because it’s only toxic if eaten, those sharp barbs can certainly hurt.Does a black locust tree have thorns?
Detail of a black locust thorn. Beware: some of the black locust’s branches feature sharp thorns! A remarkable feature of the black locust is its ability to grow new branches by sprouting new roots and shoots. The tree grows with a single leader and thorns can be found on the trunk or branches.
Can you use black locust for cutting boards?You just need to be careful on how you present your work. Instead of cutting board, display base, model foundation, plate holder and so forth. Be sure any used in the fireplace is well seasoned too. The off-gas of green Black locust and partially seasoned can be dangerous.
Article first time published onIs Black Locust durable?
One of the biggest selling points for Black Locust is its durability. … Black Locust is extremely durable for several reasons; it is a dense wood with high levels of anti-oxidants, making it a wood unlike others harvested in North America. It is extremely rot and insect resistant.
Does Black Locust wood glow?
One of the best examples of fluorescence is found in Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), which is very similar to Mulberry (Morus spp.) … But one way to easily distinguish the two is by observing them under a blacklight; Black Locust will emit a strong yellow-green glow, while Mulberry will be non-reactive.
Does Black Locust make good mulch?
Black locust wood logs can be used for mulching or compost bins while they cures into suitable posts. This post supports a barbed wire fence. Black locust posts work well for board fences too. Worn out after decades of fence post duty, the logs can be cut into firewood.
Why is it called Black Locust?
British colonists at Jamestown discovered this species in 1607 and named it for its resemblance to the Carob or Old World Locust (Ceratonia siliqua L.). Posts of this durable timber served as cornerposts for the colonists’ first homes.
Are Black Locust trees good for fence posts?
Black locust makes great fence posts. I wouldn’t bother debarking, (but the bark will rot eventually) as the man rightly told you, just make sure your post is at least 5″ heartwood.
Are Black Locust trees messy?
Are honey locust trees messy? While honey locust trees drop both small leaflets from their compound leaves and purple seed pods, these drop around the same time in fall. The resulting mess is rather easy to clean-up, though the small leaflets are a bit difficult to manually rake.
What is the difference between honey locust and Black Locust?
Honey locusts can be distinguished from Black Locusts by their longer, widespread thorns and longer seedpods. The bark of the two trees is also quite different in color and shape, and the Black Locusts flowers are large, showy white clusters, while those of the Honey Locust are creamy and insignificant.
Is Black Locust an invasive species?
Black locusts have invasive traits that enable them to spread aggressively. … Black locust produces hanging clusters of very fragrant white flowers in spring. This fast-growing native tree can form colonies and has brittle wood.
Can you burn black locust wood in a fireplace?
Black Locust has an incredible BTU rating of nearly 30. … 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.
What wood should you not burn in a fire pit?
Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with “poison” in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.
Is black locust hard to split?
Black Locust is easy to split, burns hot but is very difficult to start by itself.
Are black locust flowers poisonous?
The bark, seeds, leaves and twigs of the black locust tree are toxic to humans, cattle, poultry, sheep, and horses. … The tree usually flowers in May or June. The flowers are creamy white and are not toxic.
Why are black locust trees dying?
Bark beetles and roundheaded borers may bore into black locust tree branches. Bark beetles can cause the outer tips of branches to die, which is a condition called “flagging.” They mine into the branches up to 6 inches from the tip, causing the end of the branch to die. … The dying branches should be removed and burned.
What does black locust smell like?
1) Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) aka False Acacia – a native to the Eastern parts of the continent; and which smells like a sweet blend between heliotrope and orange blossom.
What are locust trees good for?
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.
Are black locust trees poisonous to dogs?
The entire black locust tree, especially the bark and shoots, is toxic to cats and dogs. If consumed, it can cause kidney failure, weakness, nausea, depression and death. … If ingested, any part of the plant is poisonous to dogs and may cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, arrhythmias, and respiratory depression.
How do I identify a black locust tree?
In winter, Black Locust trees can be recognized by their persisting pods, which split open to reveal small dark seeds. Bark and twig characteristics are also useful. Branches often have pairs of sharp spines at each leaf node. Winter buds are mostly hidden, sometimes peeking out from under leaf scars.
Is honey locust wood Food Safe?
Don’t quote me, but I thought locust was very “porus” for end grain cutting boards. It is a “food safe” wood though. The choice for treatment is mineral oil. (I soak them in a Rubbermaid tub) Then I polish with bees wax.
Is Black Locust good for outdoor furniture?
Scratches, dents, and gouges are unlikely to show up on this rugged hardwood that measures 1,700 lb f on the Janka scale. Black locust is more labor-intensive to hand- and machine-cut than cypress, redwood, and cedar, so it might not the best wood for outdoor furniture that you plan to build yourself.
How long does black locust decking last?
Both Ipe and Black Locust will last 30-50 years or more. Both are rot-resistant but for different reasons. Naturally rot-resistant due to its closed-grain cell structure and presence of anti-fungal compounds in the wood.
Does black locust glow under UV light?
Some types of wood glow under UV light. For example, the wood of black locust and mulberry appear very similar to the naked eye (photo on the left below). When exposed to UV light, the black locust wood appears fluorescent green, while the mulberry wood does not (photo on the right hand side below).
