Honey Locust...A Love/Hate Relationship

[ks_osage_orange]

Got into some of the most thorny locust I have ever cut today. Tore me up. Love to burn the stuff, but after today I don't want to cut one up for a while. Ouch. First time to try adding a pic. Hope it works.
View attachment 176443View attachment 176444

 

[Mntn Man]

I never cut one down that had thorns. I don't envy that job, lol!

 

[TMFARM 2009]

get it now before spring, i had a bad reaction to getting stuck with those needles,put me in the o.r. one night..in the spring some will be poisonous be careful..i hate cutting them but makes good firewood.. we have some to cut now, but i am dreading it.
i have been told if you drop them and let them lay for a year the thorns drop off..???? dont know never had the option of letting them lay.
good pics..

 

[StreamFisher]

Those thorns can be bad news. We have lots of Locust around our area but the huge majority is Black Locust. :msp_thumbsup:

We cleared the land for our house seat 17 years ago and Black Locust were the first trees to come back. We are surrounded with it at the edge of the woods in every direction.

I'm new to burning wood and have discovered Black Locust is a loooong burn.

 

[ks_osage_orange]

Problem with this one was it was LOADED with those thorns. I couldn't avoid them. Even accidently dropped a branch on my head, guess what hit me. Had the wife cleaning out a nice puncture wound in my noggin tonight. Luckily it only dropped about a foot, and it wasn't one of those 4 inchers. Must be why some of you guys wear hardhats.

 

[StreamFisher]

Even accidently dropped a branch on my head, guess what hit me. Had the wife cleaning out a nice puncture wound in my noggin tonight.

OUCH!

I can relate though. I'm an avid dirt bike rider. We mainly ride single track in thick wooded areas. I've had those thorns in my arms and shoulders several times.

 

[Sagetown]

ks_osage_orange:
Is that pic of a ' Honey Locust ' ?

I have a few of those, but never knew what they were.
So, what is the Locust tree that is shallow rooted, the wood is light weight, and the branches have tiny little thorns on them ? Is that the ' Black Locust ' ?

 

[turnkey4099]

ks_osage_orange:
Is that pic of a ' Honey Locust ' ?

I have a few of those, but never knew what they were.
So, what is the Locust tree that is shallow rooted, the wood is light weight, and the branches have tiny little thorns on them ? Is that the ' Black Locust ' ?

Black locust has rough, corrugated bark, small thorns on young wood only and is very heavy. Rates as one of the first 4 woods for firewood. Not bad to work up as long as one is carful of the young wood. Heavy leather gloves are nice when piling brush though.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Got into some of the most thorny locust I have ever cut today. Tore me up. Love to burn the stuff, but after today I don't want to cut one up for a while. Ouch. First time to try adding a pic. Hope it works.
View attachment 176443View attachment 176444

I can't make out any of those wicket 4-8" clusters of thorns commong to honey locust in that pic. Could it be a Black Locust or is it just my old eyes?

Harry K

 

[wackydeejay]

We don't have honey locust around here, but we have quite a bit of black locust. The thorns in some of that can be bad enough. They tend to grow in bunches, so it's hard to avoid them sometimes. Hope you heal up quickly.

 

[daleeper]

I worked one up just about like that last weekend. Will split the last of it tomorrow. I wore rubber boots out there because it was muddy, went back to put my work boots on, because the thorns were so bad on the ground from shaving the thing. I'm still knocking mud off those boots, but at least no thorns hit my feet.

I have some out there that need to come down that are covered completely with thorns, not sure what to do with them.

I haven't burned much locust. How long is it going to take to season this wood? Will it be ready next year?

 

[olyman]

I worked one up just about like that last weekend. Will split the last of it tomorrow. I wore rubber boots out there because it was muddy, went back to put my work boots on, because the thorns were so bad on the ground from shaving the thing. I'm still knocking mud off those boots, but at least no thorns hit my feet.

I have some out there that need to come down that are covered completely with thorns, not sure what to do with them.

I haven't burned much locust. How long is it going to take to season this wood? Will it be ready next year?

no, 2 years at best---

 

[ks_osage_orange]

Yes it's Honey locust. The main stump actually wasn't too bad and I had taken my axe and shaved off the clusters of thorns that where there. As far as Black locust is concerned, I don't really have any experience with it, but from what I've read on AS is is very dense and heavy wood, and it's thorns are smaller and generally are paired on the branch. I believe there are som pics of it on the stickied thread for wood id. I agree with olyman, two years is best with Honey locust. I burned some 1 year seasoned this winter and it still had enough moisture in it to sizzle the water out.

 

[sunfish]

We have tons of honey locus around here and I rarely cut it because of the thorns. Just not worth it to me.

 

[ancy]

Ring them and treat them!

If you do this and wait 2-3 years no thorns or small branches to deal with, also short to no wait to burn. We cut a ton of loccust this way on the river bottoms in Iowa and have great luck.

 

[daleeper]

If you do this and wait 2-3 years no thorns or small branches to deal with, also short to no wait to burn. We cut a ton of loccust this way on the river bottoms in Iowa and have great luck.

Does it make any difference what time of the year you ring them?

What are you treating them with if you don't mind telling?

 

[Sagetown]

Thanks turnkey4099;
The more I've seen on AS about Honey, and or Black Locust trees and their burning qualities, the more curious I've become as to what in the world is growing around here.....:msp_confused:

The tree that the locals call BlackLocust here has to be a misnomer.... even tho it has small thorns and small leaves, the wood is lightweight and corkey. Its roots are shallow and run just under the ground, sprouting up new saplings along the way. Their height rarely exceeds 20' of the main stem, and it doesn't burn good either. umpkin2:

 

[ancy]

Does it make any difference what time of the year you ring them?

What are you treating them with if you don't mind telling?

We do it late spring through summer, I think anytime during the growing season. I use what ever tree/brush killer is on sell and mix it strong!

 

[danrclem]

I try to keep honey locust from growing on my place. I've had too many flat tractor tires because of them. I think that I've got one left but it doesn't have any thorns.

 

[stumpy75]

The last time I tried to cut a honeylocust, I got one of the thorns in my foot. Had good boots on, but not steel shank ones... Came right up through the sole, and I had to use a pliers to pull it out to get the boot off. Ouch! :msp_cursing: :sword:

We don't find too many of them around here, but I will now avoid them if possible. Some wood just ain't worth it! Of course, the thornless varieties are fine!