We go over Black Locust firewood in detail in this BuildALot Acres exclusive. Vocal imaging courtesy Steven Lavoie! #chainsawman #firewood #woodburning #logging #unique #newengland
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I have a lot of black locust on my property. It's very shallow rooted, so I don't have to cut down standing trees. I have hand split many cords of it by hand while I was in my 60's before buying a wood splitter. I find the straight grained logs split very easily. One big advantage of this wood not mentioned in the video is that it is a very low ash wood and it's rot resistance allows it to sit in the wood pile for years without rotting unlike oak.
I have a couple big ones that have to come down this winter maybe I'll try burning it. One has been dead for a couple years do you think it could still be alright? It doesn't seem to be rotten. Great video thank you.
I’ve just spent the last couple weeks cutting down, cutting up and splitting 2 black locust that we’re leaning over my house. (Had to rent a 50 foot bucket lift). So sections are extremely dry.. as in they’ve been dead for years. Other parts were definitely rotten and smell like poop when u cut it or split it. I’m hoping the seasoning will eliminate the odors. The healthy branches are really moist and kinda stringy when you split them. Good luck.
Never put wood stoves in a cellar. Most of the heat goes out to dirt through the foundation walls and floor, not where people spend time. From experience. Love Locust when we can get it. Good job.
Wow what a solid discussion about black locust. It’s awesome. I use it for knife handles. It’s one of my favs. Lol i live in Massachusetts as well, a completely weird state. I can tell you it’s one of the densest and hard woods i work with. You say a year or two to cure? Suggest you split a piece after a year or two and see how dry it is. You should also discuss the toxicity of splinters. Wow if you get a splinter get it out. If you want to positively identify it hit it with a black light it will glow.
The only thing that I didn't hear about during this video is the toxicity of the tree. My understanding is that this tree is poisonous? Although very rare, there are instances I've read about stating the bark and thorns on this tree can be devastating if ingested or pricked by their thorns. If you look this information up you'll see that it's readily available everywhere and many of the aborist web sites state this as a characteristic of this tree. I would suggest you find out for sure before you burn it.
Thanks David. I don’t see too many other YT’ers putting this information out there in one easy to find video. I hope it helps out some folks with their wood burning adventures! Thanks for watching :)
I’ve spent the last 2 weeks cutting down, chopping up, splitting and stacking 3 large black locusts on my property. Lots of time and about $600 spent so far but bests paying nearly $3k. Tough work that’s for sure. What area do you live in?
Black locust has an AMAZING root system. When the main trunk is cut, it can send up root suckers oner 140 feet away from the stump. And not just one! But hundreds! Some places have found that it will out compete the local trees. Also takes over hay fields and pastures for the same reasons. It's Achilles heel is sheep and goat grazing. Both will eat the young shoots and leaves when they can reach them. Some folks drop younger trees, let the sheep or goats eat the leaves and then saw up the wood after it is stripped. The goats will also strip some bark, which makes it season for posts or firewood faster.
Just found this video. Have some black locust and some people up here in Maine dont use it. They think its junk. I dont think they realize the seasoning time on it. Going to stack mine and put it off to the side for awhile! Thanks for the video!
You’re most welcome my friend. Black Locust is very common in the Midwest. Definitely a top firewood. I’d say it’s not well known in the New England states.
I burn a pile of locust of any flavor here in iowa. I would consider it the king of boiler wood as it splits easy into big chunks, grows straight and tall and burns hot and long.the thorns can be dealt with easily by ringing the tree a couple years before you actually process it. Theyll brush right off. Nice video
I love black locust but it’s hard to get here in WA. I only burn it on especially cold nights so I don’t run out of my stash. Bought a big wood splitter just to be able to split it.
I hear you there. It’s in MA, but not in all of the state. To get any I really have to travel about 45 minutes-1 hour each way. What model of splitter did you get?
I think you have it reversed. Black locust has the big thorns on the trunk and Honey locust has the small thorns on the branches. At least here in Kansas.
The Black Locust I’ve processed didn’t have any thorns on the trunks. It’s also possible that hybrid thornless versions of either tree are in existence
