Honey Locust - any good?

Re: Honey Locust *LINKS*

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>For info on honeylocust, including its strength, working properties and shrinkage rates, follow this link to the Gleditsia triacanthos

Then, back up one page to the FPL Center for Wood Anatomy Research, Working Properties of North American Hardwoods and select another species or two that you are more familiar with and whose properties you like working with. Comparison of the numbers and descriptive phrases that you find most important can be very enlightening.

Re: Honey Locust - any good?

Roger Nixon

>Honey locust is a bear to harvest & turn into useful wood. There is a big distinction between the sapwood (almost white) and heartwood (dark brown). Unless you have a large diameter tree, you won't get a lot of heartwood.

The heartwood looks a lot like walnut but it is harder and heavier. I cut down one tree on my property and didn't get a lot of usable wood. Most of it is still drying. I've turned a couple of chisel handles and the wood turns very nicely and polishes up well.

Thanks

Dave Thompson - Champaign

>Thanks William and Roger... this is the kind of info I was looking for. A nice walnut about as dense as oak and non-toxic sounds appealing, assuming I get enough heart wood.

I did find some articles today that mentioned the pods are edible, and more nutritious, protein rich and sweeter than acorns! Although if it tastes like the smell my lawn mower kicks up when running over the pods, I think the squirels and deer won't be getting any competition ;-)

Re: Honey Locust - any good?

McKay Sleight from Utah

>I have turned two mallets from locust. Beautiful wood. I love the mallet. It has good weight and does not seem to dent much even w/heavy hammering.

Re: Honey Locust - any good?

Dave Thompson - Champaign

>I finally got around to cutting down a honeylocust and put it on the lathe. I think I would describe it just like you did as a nice turning wood with a wide sap wood ring, and a nice dark dense heart wood.

Being the first tree that I felled on my own, I started with the smallest and took out a recently deceased 6" diameter tree. The dark heart wood was about 2 1/2" which should make some nice handles for something.

Thanks again Roger.