Locust Prep for Fence Posts

fegienewbee · May 7, 2013

I cut some locust this morning and I just wondered what I needed to do to use them for posts. Remove the bark? Treat with something, like oil?

Larry

4010 puller · May 7, 2013

Remove the bark or let them lay for 6-12 months after you cut them. They will dry out and bark will fall right off of them.

Anonymous-0 · May 7, 2013

Don't need to treat them with anything, if it's black locust. Once they are dry, lay them in a wet spot, and let the bark weather a little, where it's wet, the bark will come off best. Kick bark off, and roll, let sit for a while, do the same again.

BANDITFARMER · May 7, 2013

It is better if they dry in a barn to cure for 6 to 12 months as 4010 said and the bark will come right off. We would do this then soak them in a barrel with old diesel motor oil for a month then turn them over and soak the other end for a month. There is a difference in how the tree grows that will determen how good a post will last. If it came up from a seed it should be good tight grained and will last. If it came up from a root of another tree it will have looser grain and will rot quickly. The best way to tell how good the post is would be to ring it. Take a hammer and hit the end of the post on the flat end, If it rings like steel its good. If it sounds like a thud its soft and wont last long. No sense putting a bad post in the ground only to have to go back in a few years to replace it. Bandit

Traditional Farmer · May 7, 2013

Should have cut them back in the Winter before
the sap rise,but now let them dry for about a year and strip off the bark

Fergienewbee · May 7, 2013

Thanks for the information everyone. I cut them today because they were crowding the overhead wires. I"ll save them for another time.

Larry

Locust Prep for Fence Posts

fegienewbee

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4010 puller

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Anonymous-0

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BANDITFARMER

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Traditional Farmer

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Fergienewbee

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