In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Anyone CSM honey locust?

Discussion in 'The Sawyer Room' started by The Wood Wolverine, Aug 15, 2022.

  1. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    16,702
    Likes Received:
    103,730
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Did a quick search and didn't some up with much.

    Friend of a friend just reached out to me asking about milling some honey locust he has. 3 pieces 3-4.5 feet in diameter and 12' long. I'm wondering how it compared to say white (chestnut) oak. Sounds like this would be a very slow go on my CSM. I don't want to set myself up for failure. My longest bar is 42" so all wouldn't be live edge slabs.

    Not my pic:
    [​IMG]

    Anyone ever mill it with their chainsaw?
     
    M2theB, jo191145, Woodsnwoods and 6 others like this.
  2. Sawdust Man

    Sawdust Man

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2022
    Messages:
    2,150
    Likes Received:
    14,567
    Location:
    65761
    No chain saw milling.....but I've cut a log or two on the Woodmizer...

    Saws way easier than white oak! in fact it cut better than red oak as well.
    I'd say it's about like milling black walnut, which is no sweat on a band mill.
    Sorry I don't got no experience with csm on this stuff.
    Good luck.
     
    M2theB, jo191145, Woodsnwoods and 6 others like this.
  3. Sawdust Man

    Sawdust Man

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2022
    Messages:
    2,150
    Likes Received:
    14,567
    Location:
    65761
    Pic of some honey locust we sawed, pretty stuff!
    IMG_20220427_100912.jpg
     
  4. WinonaRail

    WinonaRail

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    Messages:
    3,066
    Likes Received:
    15,723
    Location:
    Indiana, US
    I have some big (24"-36") locust logs in the wood yard. Now I wish I had a mill!
     
  5. Sawdust Man

    Sawdust Man

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2022
    Messages:
    2,150
    Likes Received:
    14,567
    Location:
    65761
    Buy one......:whistle:
     
  6. WinonaRail

    WinonaRail

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    Messages:
    3,066
    Likes Received:
    15,723
    Location:
    Indiana, US
    I haven't even bought all the firewood toys I want yet! Priorities... :D:rofl: :lol:
     
  7. Sawdust Man

    Sawdust Man

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2022
    Messages:
    2,150
    Likes Received:
    14,567
    Location:
    65761
    A csm is cheap compared to some of the other toys.....
    Not to mention there's a risk you could even make some $ to finance the other stuff you need
    Lumber and live edge slabs are worth lots more per pound than firewood, you know....lol
    :handshake:
     
  8. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    16,702
    Likes Received:
    103,730
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    That’s good feedback though. Thanks. :yes:
     
  9. KSPlainsman

    KSPlainsman

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2022
    Messages:
    821
    Likes Received:
    4,023
    Location:
    Kansas
    Report back if you attack it with a chainsaw mill. I got a bunch I'm going to be doing throughout winter.
     
  10. Barcroftb

    Barcroftb

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Messages:
    3,076
    Likes Received:
    17,844
    Location:
    The Mitten
    It shouldn’t be as hard to mill as something like hickory but should be similar to something like hard maple. Hard maple and honey locust are pretty close to 1500 on the janka scale of hardness. Of course that’s just one factor in its composition. Things like local growing conditions, the lignin/cellulose ratio, etc. can have and effect, but it definitely shouldn’t be harder to mill than white oak Jason. Having said all that the only applicable experience I have with it is noodling big rounds down to quarters.
     
  11. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    16,702
    Likes Received:
    103,730
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Good to know. I still haven’t replied to him. I’m trying to weigh out the worth of my time. This would definitely have to benefit me financially to do the work. The walnut was for a friend so I didn’t mind doing it. And it would have to wait for cooler weather.
     
  12. JB Sawman

    JB Sawman

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2018
    Messages:
    1,285
    Likes Received:
    7,976
    Location:
    pennsylvania
    Hey I have not been here in a while but it does not mill that bad not as bad as white oak last one I did was a while ago @36 inch used a 3120 with 404 super skip rip chain JB
     
  13. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    16,702
    Likes Received:
    103,730
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Thanks for feedback.
    I've messaged Ben back and told him I'd try out one log and see how it goes before making a decision on the rest. Just need the temps to cool off a bit first. We are headed back to the 90's this week apparently.

    Next to work out is how to charge for the service.
     
  14. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    16,702
    Likes Received:
    103,730
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Just spoke with Ben. Turns out this is his friends wood. We got to talking and I tell him my 42" bar maxes out at about 36-37". He tells me they are more like 48-54" and all 3 are cut to 12'!!!! I told him we could make 4 cuts to square one at 36", then slab away, IF he can roll it after each cut. He said friends tractor can't budge the logs. :bug:
    So we agreed to meet tomorrow and check them out. He said at this point his friend just wants the wood gone :). They were hoping to get some slabs to use/sell but if that doesn't happen, it's ok.


    We will see. :whistle: Sounds like monster wood. :)
     
  15. KSPlainsman

    KSPlainsman

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2022
    Messages:
    821
    Likes Received:
    4,023
    Location:
    Kansas
    Holy smokes! Those are monster locusts! Well, that'll be some amazing firewood, if the slabs don't happen, but man, that would be a shame.
     
  16. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    19,925
    Likes Received:
    103,393
    Location:
    KC Metro
    Honey Locust... Something about it, just brings a smile to me... I love the color of the wood and the smell..... Good Luck... pictures... :ithappened:
     
  17. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2013
    Messages:
    9,404
    Likes Received:
    62,055
    Location:
    Central PA
    I cut some big slabs out of a massive honey locust a few years back, talk about beautiful wood! Two of those slabs were used in a high-end bartop. I still have one left....
     
  18. KSPlainsman

    KSPlainsman

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2022
    Messages:
    821
    Likes Received:
    4,023
    Location:
    Kansas
    You and me both fella. Everything about it is good, except the thorned honey locust. Those thorns are ruthless.
     
  19. KSPlainsman

    KSPlainsman

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2022
    Messages:
    821
    Likes Received:
    4,023
    Location:
    Kansas
    Do you happen to have any pictures of the bartop?
     
  20. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    16,702
    Likes Received:
    103,730
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Making me wish I had a 60" bar! :hair: