Honey locust. Go big or go home

Add another one to the monster list.
Just for background, this thread: Anyone CSM honey locust?
will explain some. Long story short, friend of a friend of a friend had some honey locust he wanted to mill. Got there and this was the scene. The base was 46” at the bottom and about 14’ up it crotched to 68”.





Way too big for me to mill, so we moved some pieces and away I went. All that can be seen on the other thread.
Needed a break from it, so today I switched to firewood. This piece had two limbs that were cut off long ago and had rot, so it was deemed firewood. That’s my 42” bar and yes, this was one of the 2 “limbs” that were cut off at base piece at the crotch. It’s a noodle fest. This chit is heavy!




Todays take:



Aired up to 80lbs.


To anyone that ever asked about the smell of honey locust. The wood itself wasn’t bad. Tiny bit bitter BUT, there were some type of worms/larvae under the bark that let off a very nasty, putrid smell. It was bad!


And the mountain begins.

 

Liking that fire wood

 

Spoke with homeowner, we agreed earlier to buck the large log till the rot went away.

I made one cut at 21” and it looked real good, so I told him.. good news and bad. Good is I wouldn’t need to remove anymore, bad that I really doubt he’ll find anyone with a rig big enough to mill it. He asks if i can cut it in half so he can roll it to the edge/weeds to get it out of his yard. It’s awesome standing next to it.


This is not counting the round I cut.


I told him I could noodle it up like the log I just did and get rid of it for him, he says, do it.




So here we are. Another monster of a tree is coming home with me. Might take a few loads but I’ll get er done.


A little consolation prize. Got home and realized I couldn’t find my work phone (I’m on call all the time so I have to carry it with me). Drove back to the spot and just before turning into the road, I spot it on the road.

 

12” honey locust is a handful due to the weight. Couldn’t imagine dealing with those monsters but I would love the opportunity!

Helluva score! I also see you have a 1st gen Tundra. Exquisite taste

 

Wow! What a monster! That'll make some awesome heat. Sucks about your phone.

 

Awesome score bud! Will you have to clean up all the noodles and scrap when your done? That will be a days work by itself.

 

Nice score, I have all the locust I'll ever want out back, I think it's black locust (no spears and it has rough bark) anyway, I saw those under the bark of the last tree I bucked up, torched em and moved on maybe there maggots?

 

really liking the locust firewood

 

I won't have to. I do plan on gathering some noodles up for firestarter. Couple garbage bags should do. He's got a lot of powder from milling to contend with. With farm animals and such, I'd imagine it will get put to use somewhere.

 

With the smell, I first though maggots but I've never experienced them under bark before. And these were long and skinny, unlike the norm. I'll definitely be removing as much bark as possible on site.

 

Nice honey score, that will give you a year or two of heat.
I think it was a week after getting a new Samsung Note 2 that if fell while I was unloading in an alley. I knew it happened and planed on getting it when I came back out. Just as I came out of the building a car went through the alley and I think you can guess the rest. Phones are not cheap anymore.

 

That poor Tundra...nice score my friend!

 

That will buff right out…

I usually bust at least one screen a year, sometimes 2. There is a local fella that replaces them for about $80

 

Good work, lots of future btu's. Keepin money out of the mans pocket.

 

Next truck load I'm going to stop at the local gas station .5 mi up the road. They have 18 wheeler scales. I've always been curious. This truck has earned its keep!

 

Better works phone than yours!

 

My back hurts just looking at the loaded truck. Sweet score.
Always stuff living under locust bark. Everything from sparrows to turkeys usually flock around as soon as you leave. Any chickens on site?

 

Right up your alley Jason. Back breakers and hernia makers as i now call big wood. First time scoring it? Those little maggots are gross. Look like the same ones ive seen under BL after a few months in the warmer weather.

How long did you work it and how much more to get?