Black Locust posts

Northvale PA · Feb 16, 2019

I cut a number of fence post length logs from a few locust trees. One was about 18? diameter. I am tempted to haul the largest ones to a local sawmill and have them sliced into 3 1/2? thick slabs. Dry them some and slice 5? wide posts with my chainsaw. Do I need to worry about them twisting or should I air dry them awhile? I need to replace the fence posts along the driveway so want nice straight ones there.

cole in mo. · Feb 16, 2019

Never saw a round locus post twist or warp, but don't know what it would do sawed up like that.

Jim in NC · Feb 16, 2019

Get the sawmill operator to your logs into posts. Has worked good for us.

Northvale PA · Feb 16, 2019

I have put some full rounds in the ground and the tops split open and curl apart. Not many. Just a few.

ohiojim · Feb 16, 2019

you won't have to dry them, they are pre dried. just stick-em in the ground.

Richard G. · Feb 16, 2019

Best fence post ever. I have used them all my life. I built a barn using them 41 years ago.
About to build a wood shed with some soon.
You can saw them or leave them round. Does not matter.
My sills and floor joists in my house are black locust built over 40 years ago.
Richard in NW SC

MARK ROBKE · Feb 16, 2019

My Dad used to split,by sledge and wedge,locust posts back in the day. But they all have to be seasoned.Let them dry for a couple of years. When I bought my place,I cut and set a lot of posts the same year.They did not season. In fact,some even grew short sprouts. These lasted 15+ years,but many have since rotted. Posts that I set that were seasoned, did not rot off(so far). As far as cutting them, I never have heard of anyone doing that,so it would be nice to know how it works. I do know,the longer they season, the harder,and slower to rot, they get. Mark.

wolfman · Feb 16, 2019

Locust posts split kind of easy. A wedge and sledge and you get two split posts out of a 9 in round or four out of a bigger round. Split posts last longer than rounds.

vapet · Feb 17, 2019

Sawed several in the early 90's, 4x4, don't remember if the logs were season out or not. Still standing and strait.

Grandpa's Fords · Feb 17, 2019

We band saw split, hand split and had smaller rounds. None were seasoned well. After 7 years most of the rounds with bark are broken(rotted) off at ground level. The rounds we debarked are still good. The hand and saw split ones are all good. None of the splits had twisted or warped.
If they were already seasoned I wouldn't believe they need to dry any further.
We knew we did something wrong when ours rotted and a few of the posts that my grandfather put in 50 years earlier were still holding wire.

Black Locust posts

Northvale PA

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cole in mo.

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Jim in NC

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Northvale PA

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ohiojim

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Richard G.

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MARK ROBKE

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wolfman

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vapet

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Grandpa's Fords

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