Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Black Locust tree sample
I recently had a largish BL tree cut down as a potential storm damage candidate to my house. Had the main trunk sections saved for potential bowls or firewood, and turned a piece as a test of moisture content. Sap is not rising yet here in central KY and wood is just right for turning before it becomes too hard! If anyone is willing to transport I will help cut some for you to pick up. Good color and grain pattern make nice user or display bowls, so come get it. 
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Re: Black Locust tree sample
Nice. I could see, just for fun, popping that core out where it is already chipped out a bit, and popping in a mini-porthole. How to make the porthole...?
I think it is the shape of the turning, but it reminds me of something I'm pretty sure I saw in an issue of Woodturning, the UK magazine. I'm thinking that piece was made from Laburnum? A wood I have seen used often in that magazine, but not one I have seen in the states. Any idea if the 2 are related?
no obvious connection without deeper digging
https://www.wood-database.com/laburnum/
https://www.wood-database.com/black-locust/
For fun...
shine a UV light on it. Great fluorescence.
fluorescence
>>>shine a UV light on it. Great fluorescence.
Black locust and honey locust fluoresce bright green/yellow under 365nm UV light. Since the end grain of black locust, osage orange, and mulberry can look similar the fluorescence is a good help for ID.
Here's a piece of redheart next to a chunk of locust.
Here's a Wood Database list of some other species that fluoresce:
https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/fluorescence-a-secret-weapon-in-wood-identification/
JKJ
Re: Black Locust tree sample
>>>If anyone is willing to transport I will help cut some for you to pick up. Good color and grain pattern make nice user or display bowls, so come get it.
What approx diameters do you have? � I like to process black locust into blanks and turn them when dry. � (takes a while!) � A few months ago I cut one almost 30” in dia but like lots of large b.locust it had a lot of internal decay.
I’ve wished for years I could drive up for a visit. Are you in horse country near Lexington? We are about 45 minutes south of Jellico.
Re: Black Locust tree sample
Wish I was closer, but you’re about three or four days away from the Pacific Northwest. I stumbled across some black locust a few years ago and really enjoyed turning it. It also responded to ammonia fuming in unusual ways - growth rings and sapwood stayed very light while the rest turned an extremely dark (green/black).
Hey JKJ, come on up, and drive a truck!
I'd be delighted to have you visit, I'm 12 mi. NW of Lexington and 3 hrs. N of Knoxville. The butt of the Locust log is 20" and there is much good turning material in the several trunk sections I saved.