ID Locust type by description, please

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Andy S.

Andy S.

Feeling the Heat
Oct 28, 2013
405
Southeastern, PA
My folks have some massive Locust trees that lost some very large branches in storms last year. Since they were in the back of the property and out of the way I'm just getting to cleaning them up. I assume BL because I see it here so often that I'm conditioned to think it. This stuff has yellowish-white sapwood and light pink heartwood. Is that a giveaway? Might it be Honey Locust? I plan to split and stack the stuff down to 3" and leave the rest round. Will it be ready for '14/'15 if I split it at my leisure over the summer? How about the small rounds? Thanks!
 
Andy S. said:
My folks have some massive Locust trees that lost some very large branches in storms last year. Since they were in the back of the property and out of the way I'm just getting to cleaning them up. I assume BL because I see it here so often that I'm conditioned to think it. This stuff has yellowish-white sapwood and light pink heartwood. Is that a giveaway? Might it be Honey Locust? I plan to split and stack the stuff down to 3" and leave the rest round. Will it be ready for '14/'15 if I split it at my leisure over the summer? How about the small rounds? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Pics would be very helpful, but yes BL wood is mostly yellow and I have seen a pinkish tint in some cases. I've never cut or burned Honey Locust but I do know what the bark looks like and BL and HL bark are completely different. Since you are in SEPA like me, BL is a safe bet since it is everywhere around here. I don't see much Honey Locust in my area.
 
Pinkish heartwood makes me think it is honey locust. Look at the trunks that are still growing. If there are thorns on them then it is honey locust. If the bark is very thick and deeply furrowed (like an ash on steroids) it is black locust. If the bark has rather smooth large plates it is thornless honey locust.
 
Will try to get a pic later. Another observation is that when I first saw the branches they looked like Cherry on the outside... smooth with those dash/dot rings. The BTU ratings I see are similar. Any guidance on drying time?
 
+1 on the pink interior of Honey locust. I trimmed 4 last weekend. These all had a few thorns. Apparently, honey locust were bred to remove the thorns about 50-75 years ago, but their offspring revert back to the thorn varieties.

The neighbor of the house we were trimming at had honey locusts that had significantly more thorns. These trees were somewhat smaller (younger) I think these were offspring from the trees we were trimming. The neighbor wants his "picker trees" removed.
 
Jags said:
I like to get at least 2 summers on all locust varieties.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Does that apply to the <3" rounds as well?
 
without pics I'm going to say Honey Locust on discription alone. Great firewood. 2 years seaoning is best. 1 well ventilated season will work in a pinch.
 
Either one is great wood. Just give it some time to season. BL green has a very distinctive rather sickening sweet smell when splitting and when sitting in the stack for a few weeks after.
 
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