Forum > Ask The Forester
Black locust burls
moodnacreek:
I used to cut locust into 4x6 and 1x6 side boards mostly 8'. For trailer decks requiring white oak that I never have enough of I mix locust in to complete the order. I will buy locust any time some one will bring it in. Other than end splits it keeps forever, thats why I will buy all I can get. The hearts are only good on young logs and the big logs that show no rot are all wind cracks in the heart. Because of this I don't take much side lumber that is after the slab I make a 2" pull as 2" plank is what I am after. This is not the correct way to saw a log but a 'ski' is better than the rot that is coming . Many cuts must go through the edger, sometimes all of them. I also taper almost any time if I think the heart is bad. Alot of waste and firewood. 2x8 is the thing to saw, always sells, never have enough.
Ron Wenrich:
10 yrs ago, I had a client that would buy as much locust logs as he could find. He had a buyer go out to mills and buy their logs. He traveled the East Coast. When he had a trailerload, they would send them to an Amish mill to be sawn. His price was $3.50/bf and sold some for architectural work. Some is in the George Bush Library. His sales kept his business afloat.
We used to saw tapered post. Saw a 6x6, then split it with a taper out. It was hard to pull the post out of the ground. Not much demand anymore as the old farmers have passed.
Don P:
The local large mill tried locust one time years ago and after that told the loggers to leave them. It was a losing deal at that scale, hard on equipment for low yield. Since then they started a firewood operation so it went into that stream. Meanwhile a locust decking company started up south of us. I think of it as our teak. It's tough to get good locust, but it is fine wood.
moodnacreek:
Never herd of a tapered fence post. I would rather do 2x8 than posts especially 4x4 as they are embarrassing . Almost none straight and black holes. Before we got termites seasoned locust would really last in the ground. The hiking trail clubs demand it for their board walks over streams and swamps, that's the big demand here. I am charging $2.25 bd. ft. no end trim, good one side [2x8 or 6. If the saw teeth have too much hook angle, locust will bend back a wire edge requiring filing the top of the tooth. feeding slow and making fine sawdust if hard on the eyes and nose. Back to the sawmill.
dustyhat:
I dont know much about burls , but i do know a guy that makes big money off of locust, making split rails .i think he gets five dollars a rail.
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