Got Locust?

[JTP11]

I processed about 3 cords of 30" black locust rounds from a grapple load I got 2 summers ago. Did it all with the vertical splitter, a piece of 3/4" plywood, and a few golf balls to make it easier to maneuver. Aside for the excellent BTU's of locust, it's very rot resistant so it can stay on the ground for a while. They were used for ship masts back in the day because of that and how straight they are. If available the locust logs were usually the first layer on the ground before the oak on my past grapple loads.

Easy to split and I agree with having to season it for 2 yrs unless you mix it in with some good oak in a well established fire after only 1 yr. Usually by 2 yrs the bark will fall off. Man that stuff is thick....

Great score!!

 

[Old Painless]

I've been splitting by hand since I was old enought to lift a maul, I'm with the rest of you about popping them while they are green... 6 pack of beer and my X27, I'd make short work of that pile.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Oh I'll definitely be using a splitter, but I'm not sure how I will be able to lift them to the splitter then hold them in place. They are HEAVY!

Most definitely get a splitter that you can use the easy way; vertically. No need to lift any log up onto a splitter if you do it right. The work is hard enough as it is so why make it harder? Park your butt on a short stump or a milk crate and go to work. Split and no sweat.

 

[Coal Reaper]

Im going two years. My first time burning it tho. Patience is a virtue im hoping.

 

[Coal Reaper]

On st

I've been splitting by hand since I was old enought to lift a maul, I'm with the rest of you about popping them while they are green... 6 pack of beer and my X27, I'd make short work of that pile.

On straight grain wood like that is already bucked up i will split faster than any splitter. So long as i have a tire anyway...

 

[weatherguy]

Thats too thick to split manually and it burns too hot for your stove, lucky for you Im in the locust disposal business, for a nominal fee Ill come and take that awful stuff off your lawn

 

[blujacket]

what is the drying time for locust ? Just split some up and wondered if it will be ready for next season.

All the Black Locust I have ever had, 1 year is enough. Honey Locust is 2 years for me.

 

[albert1029]

Did it all with the vertical splitter, a piece of 3/4" plywood, and a few golf balls to make it easier to maneuver

Inventive to use the plywood and golf balls.

 

[cptoneleg]

All the Black Locust I have ever had, 1 year is enough. Honey Locust is 2 years for me.

Alot depends on how long it has been dead- but yes at least a yr for BL with a little life in it when cut. Sometimes more, was really surprised that a live BL I cut a yr ago was still in the upper 20s moisture content. Althoug I cut some today that was dead laying off the ground was like 15% moisture.

I cut on an old plantation, that has like all stages of dead, there life span is like a 100 yrs. Dropped one today that was totally rotten, and I had to get it out of the field. Part of the deal I don't leave a MESS. I think this one was probably standing dead 200 yrs. I misjudged this one.

 

[jatoxico]

Most definitely get a splitter that you can use the easy way; vertically. No need to lift any log up onto a splitter if you do it right. The work is hard enough as it is so why make it harder? Park your butt on a short stump or a milk crate and go to work. Split and no sweat.

Spoken like a true veteran milk crate jockey! So far I'm to cheap to buy a splitter so really don't know what I'm missing.

 

[Stax]

6 lb maul will do the job just fine. Love splitting Locust. Remember to "roll" your rounds. BL is a heavy, dense hardwood.

 

[AnalogKid]

Can any wood hoarding veterans out there give me a ballpark idea of how many cords of split wood that will produce?

 

[cptoneleg]

use one of the cord calculators that are located in The Wood Shed

 

[Puffins]

Newb question; will they split (with maul) a little easier after they've had a little time to dry? Right now that wet core feels like stone!

Split green, burn seasoned. Get to them ASAP for easier splitting.

 

[gzecc]

Only ever had black locust. Always ready for me after one year. Starts at 30-35% mc to begin with. It only has to come down 10 points.

 

[Lakeside]

Can any wood hoarding veterans out there give me a ballpark idea of how many cords of split wood that will produce?

I go with 1 1/2 cord / 2 cord max

 

[AnalogKid]

use one of the cord calculators that are located in The Wood Shed

Oops, never noticed that link...

I go with 1 1/2 cord / 2 cord max

Per the cord calculator, 1.52 cord. Good eye!

 

[Flatbedford]

The big ones hand split the same as the small ones, but you spend less time moving them around. I have processed about 5 cords of BL by hand in the last year or so. It is generally an easy splitting wood. Big rounds to not necessarily mean you need hydraulics as long as you are physically able to hand split. If you split those now, you could probably burn them next season, another year would be ideal, but BL starts with such low moisture that one year could be fine. Definitely split it sooner than later. The drier it gets, the harder it will be to split.

 

[OhioBurner©]

I cut up a fallen dead BL that was that big, most of the rounds nearer the base were atleast 24". Those suckers were heavy to get onto the truck, and the hieght of trucks now-days while looks 'cool' sure doesnt help loading them. I carry a couple ramps now to help if I have to I can roll them up.

I would have split the biggest ones but mine didnt seem top behave like most of y'all say. I couldnt get the big ones to split for anything by hand when freshly cut. About 2-3 months later with some cracks developing I was able to split em all by hand. But either way, I had a lot of rounds like in your pic that arent round, but have lots of ears (for lack of better term). The ones that have big ears seemed much easier, I could strike across the ear and chip it off. Often after I took off a few ears the core would be smalle enough now I could pop it open. It was the really big ones that were nice a round that were hardest, and most I had to chip off slabs around the outside which I hate to do.

I know some standing dead BL is drier than other, but I've never seasoned mine more than a year (most of it cut in spring and burnt next fall) and the stuff burns like crazy. If I do a full firebox its everything I can do to get it not to overfire the Rockland. Good stuff. I am sure if its cut more green than mine would take longer though, mine rarely were much over 30% starting out.