Milled locust posts?

[daycab]

I was told that milled locust posts will not last as long as split locust posts. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!

[homesteadforty]

Originally Posted by daycab

I was told that milled locust posts will not last as long as split locust posts. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!

It's just an opinion based on my experience but milled anything deteriorates faster. If asked for an explaination I would have to say that it's because milling opens more end grain.

FWIW... that's my story and I'm sticking to it

[Forerunner]

Locust posts are nice to work with, being straighter and a bit softer to drive staples into than hedge (osage orange), but they don't last as long.

That can be well remedied by boiling said posts in used motor oil.
Split a tank, such as a fuel or lp tank, lengthwise. Set it up on blocks to where a fire can be built underneath. Pour in 10-15 gallons of used oil and how ever many posts at a time that the apparatus will hold. Fire it up and let 'em cook slow for a few hours and repeat the process on as many posts as you need, refilling the oil supply as required. Hang the treated posts where they can drip and air dry, preferably while they are still quite hot.
When the operation is complete, simply drain the excess oil in the tank through that handy drain plug in the bottom and store it 'til you need it again.

[MELOC]

you must be using that "girly" locust if you can still drive anything into it, lol. my black locust doesn't put up with that!

[MELOC]

since we are on the subject...what is the cost of milled black locust posts in your area. they are $15 each at the mill down the street. i need about 30 to rebuild the fence around my garden. i don't feel like shelling out $450 so i am cutting as many straight locusts as i can find and i will use them fully round.

[FreightTrain]

Originally Posted by MELOC

you must be using that "girly" locust if you can still drive anything into it, lol. my black locust doesn't put up with that!

ill second that! mine either.

[FreightTrain]

Originally Posted by MELOC

since we are on the subject...what is the cost of milled black locust posts in your area. they are $15 each at the mill down the street. i need about 30 to rebuild the fence around my garden. i don't feel like shelling out $450 so i am cutting as many straight locusts as i can find and i will use them fully round.

around here 6' split locust posts with pointed ends go for 2.00 at a neighbors up to 4.50 at auction. I hear plain ol untreated locust will last for several decades. Im cutting and de-barking a pile of free locust now that will be for my pasture

[MELOC]

a friend just bought a few 3" x 5" x 9' milled locust posts for $15 each. pre-drilling required, lol.

[js2743]

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Locust posts are nice to work with, being straighter and a bit softer to drive staples into than hedge (osage orange), but they don't last as long.

That can be well remedied by boiling said posts in used motor oil.
Split a tank, such as a fuel or lp tank, lengthwise. Set it up on blocks to where a fire can be built underneath. Pour in 10-15 gallons of used oil and how ever many posts at a time that the apparatus will hold. Fire it up and let 'em cook slow for a few hours and repeat the process on as many posts as you need, refilling the oil supply as required. Hang the treated posts where they can drip and air dry, preferably while they are still quite hot.
When the operation is complete, simply drain the excess oil in the tank through that handy drain plug in the bottom and store it 'til you need it again.

i never seen a locust that was easy to drive a nail or staple into unless it was fresh cut or a live tree. my grandfather bought the place i have now in 1950 and built all new fence and there is still some sections of post left today that are tight as ever. and almost impossible to drive any thing into them, have to use the very short staples if you do.

[Forerunner]

Agreed, but locust is still softer than hedge.

The oil treatment also seems to lubricate the grain to facilitate easier insertion of hardware.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by daycab

I was told that milled locust posts will not last as long as split locust posts. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!

LOL, not with locust, but I remember years back we cut and split pine to use as tobacco sticks to hang the tobacco in a barn. we started tending more tobacco, thus more sticks were needed so My uncle decided to cut some pine, then get it sawed. Those sawn sticks lasted about two years. Our old sticks were split somewhere around a hundred years ago, and if they are not left out in the weather, they will still be here when the next hundred years have past. I see no reason why spliting locust would not be the same, plus locust, with its own ability to withstand the elements anyway, might be around five hundred years. My 2 cents, splitum and they will last your lifetime. Any lasting ability beyond that, Is of no importance, Because we ain't gona be here when they wearout LOL Eddie

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by MELOC

a friend just bought a few 3" x 5" x 9' milled locust posts for $15 each. pre-drilling required, lol.

LOL, If I had to pay fifteen dollars for one fence post, talk about a short fence line, you would see it at my house. Eddie

[just_sawing]

OK here something I do know a little about.
First we are talking about Black Locust not honey locust.
Milling make the post last a lot longer. The heart of the locust is what is so resistant to rot. By sawing the bark and jacket wood off of what going in to the ground realy works a lot better. What the problem is that when you install the post the bark and jacket wood rots and causes the post to come loose
Note for the spelling nags I not in a hurry or emotional and there should not be many misspelled words. Thanks for keeping us safe