Re: Cutting locust with a chainsaw. How much trouble?

Charlie Self wrote:
>
> Duane Bozarth wrote:
> > Modat22 wrote:
> > >
> > > I have a large number of 25 inch plus diameter locust trees on my
> > > property. I have burn some as fire wood but I'd like to try to cut
> > > some of this into lumber for a few projects. How hard is this going to
> > > be on my chainsaw? I have a 6bhp saw with a 36 inch bar.
> > >
> > > I know that it dulls my saw pretty fast just cutting it for firewood,
> > > what is this going to do to a thickness planer and joiner?
> >
> > http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Black_locust_uses.html
>
> I haven't done a lot of work with black locust, but it doesn't seem to
> me that it dulled planer and jointer blades as badly as hickory, though
> it rates as harder, it is fairly easy to saw, and to work generally,
> about on a part, IMO, with white oak.
>
> I would rather have a band mill cut the wood, but if a chainsaw mill is
> all the OP has, then it makes sense to use it.
>
> At least in this area, 25" locust trees are fairly rare. Mor eapt to be
> in the 12" to 14" range, but that's largely because they get cut down
> and whacked into fence posts at about that size.

Yep, I agree...locust is hard but not excessively hard on tool edges.

It makes some attractive lumber. It's one that like fir, and
particularly yellow pine, that seems to get much harder w/ time...
.