{"id":1977,"date":"2016-05-25T04:00:30","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T08:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.woodturningpens.com\/?p=1977"},"modified":"2016-04-17T18:09:56","modified_gmt":"2016-04-17T22:09:56","slug":"honey-locust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.woodturningpens.com\/honey-locust\/","title":{"rendered":"Honey Locust"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Geographical Distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The wood most commonly known and sold as Honey Locust comes from the tree known botanically as Gleditsia triacanthos<\/em>.<\/p>\n

G. triacanthos<\/em> is a native of the eastern areas of the United States. More specifically, G. triacanthos<\/em> is found scattered in the East-Central United States from central Pennsylvania westward to southeastern South Dakota, south to central and southeastern Texas, east to southern Alabama, then northeasterly through Alabama to western Maryland. Outlying populations of the species may be found in northwestern Florida, west Texas, and west-central Oklahoma.  It is naturalized east to the Appalachian Mountains from South Carolina north to Pennsylvania, New York, and New England.  G. triacanthos<\/em> attains its maximum development in the valleys of small streams in southern Indiana and Illinois.<\/p>\n

However, despite this native range, the tree has been used extensively as a wind break and for erosion control throughout most of the United States and in parts of Canada.  The seed pods are frequently foraged by grazing animals which disperse the seeds naturally through their droppings.  The aggressive growth nature of the tree coupled with its tolerance for varying soil types and drought has caused it become invasive in some areas; most notably the tree is highly invasive in Australia.<\/p>\n

\"Honey

Reverse of Small Honey Locust Bowl<\/p><\/div>\n

At this time, the United States Department of Agriculture data show G. triacanthos<\/em> occurring in all 48 lower states, except Washington and Oregon, as well as in Ontario, Canada.  Other data sources indicate that G. triacanthos<\/em> is found in both Oregon and Washington state, at least as ornamental specimens.<\/p>\n

The decimation of Elm (Ulmus sp.<\/em>) shade trees has caused some locations to plant thornless hybrids of G. triacanthos<\/em> as replacements, a decision some locations may come to regret as the trees spread beyond intended boundaries.  Householders may also plant these trees, widely sold in nursery stock, as shade or ornamental trees well outside their native range.  Trees harvested for wood trades are usually taken from areas where the tree is native and grows wild.<\/p>\n

For the sake of simplicity and common understanding, from this point forward I will refer to G. triacanthos as Honey Locust, although other common names, such as Sweet Locust or Thorny Locust may be in use in some areas.<\/p>\n

\"Small

Small Honey Locust Bowl<\/p><\/div>\n

General Characteristics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The heartwood of the Honey Locust is most commonly a medium to light reddish brown.  The wide sapwood of the Honey Locust is typically a light yellow.  This sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood and the sapwood is commonly used in timber applications as well as the heartwood.<\/p>\n

Overall, the appearance of Honey Locust wood is quite similar to that of Gymnocladus<\/em> dioicus<\/em> (Kentucky Coffeetree).<\/p>\n

The grain of the Honey Locust wood is most often straight although on occasion it can be slightly irregular.  The texture is medium and uneven although the wood does display at least a moderate luster when well surfaced.<\/p>\n

\"Interior

Interior of Small Honey Locust Bowl<\/p><\/div>\n

Honey Locust endgrain features pores in a ring pattern with reddish heartwood deposits occasionally present.<\/p>\n

Honey Locust is rated as durable to moderately durable in terms of resistance to rot fungus although the wood remains susceptible to insect attacks.<\/p>\n

Working Characteristics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Honey Locust wood is attractive and occasionally colorful, it can be considered difficult to work with both hand and machine powered tools on account of its density, which is slightly above both red and white oaks (Quercus sp<\/em>).  However, for those with the patience to work with a dense wood, Honey Locust generally produces good results.<\/p>\n

\"Three

Three Small Honey Locust Vessels<\/p><\/div>\n

Honey Locust is reported to glue, stain, and otherwise finish well, and most importantly for our purposes, Honey Locust is a very good turning wood, in part due to its density and coloration.<\/p>\n

Most authorities report that Honey Locust displays no distinctive odor when being worked either green or dried.<\/p>\n

Pricing and Availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately for such a nice, colorful, and excellent turning wood, Honey Locust is not widely or commonly available.  One can sometimes find very limited quantities of Honey Locust from vendors located in its natural range, but it is not a commercially harvested or exported species that one is likely to find at large national chain vendors.<\/p>\n

\"Reverse

Reverse of Three Small Honey Locust Vessels<\/p><\/div>\n

When available, expects prices for Honey Locust to be the mid to upper range for a domestic hardwood.<\/p>\n

I always recommend both West Penn Hardwoods<\/a> and Bell Forest Products<\/a> as excellent sources of both domestic and exotic hardwoods.  I have had multiple dealings with both vendors and have always been very satisfied.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, West Penn Hardwoods is not offering Honey Locust at this time.  Bell Forest Products does, however, stock very limited quantities of Honey Locust in the form of pen blanks as well as a small number of individual boards, but they do not have extensive stocks in any size beyond pen blanks at this time.<\/p>\n

I also do significant business with two relatively local merchants who specialize in the hardwoods of the southern United States and both have at different times offered Honey Locust.  I have had excellent experiences with both of these vendors as well.<\/p>\n

The first vendor is NC Wood<\/a>, based, as the name implies, in nearby North Carolina and the second are the gentlemen over at Got Wood?<\/a> in, also nearby, South Carolina.<\/p>\n

At this time, NC Wood does not offer Honey Locust.<\/p>\n

\"Interior

Interior Three Small Honey Locust Vessels<\/p><\/div>\n

Got Wood?, however has a relatively good supply of Honey Locust in large bowl blank formats ranging in size from 8” x 2” up to 10” x 4”.  Prices range from $9.33 to $30.56.  They also have a very limited supply of 4” x 4” spindle stock (3 pieces only at this time).  If you are interested in Honey Locust bowl blanks, I would head over to Got Wood now because their stock is limited in all sizes to a total of 23 blanks inclusive of all sizes.  Honey Locust is somewhat of a difficult wood to source so don’t miss out if you want to try it.<\/p>\n

While they don’t currently stock any Honey Locust, I would like to mention one additional vendor with whom I have had several very positive experiences, WoodTurningz <\/a>of Indiana.  Despite the cutesy name, which tends to annoy me, this company does offer a decent selection of bowl blanks although the focus of their business seems to be pen making.  I have found a few species from this outfit which I have not found from any other vendor.  They provided me with good products and excellent service so I can certainly recommend them.<\/p>\n

Woodfinder <\/a>is an excellent website that is dedicated to advertising wood dealers.  In your search for Honey Locust, this can be an invaluable resource provided you use multiple search terms to capture all the possible listings.  I can’t speak to the quality of any of the listed dealers, but Woodfinder does have the advantage of allowing searches to be performed based on location which might allow an interested buyer to visit a listed wood dealer in person to hand pick pieces at a comfortable price.<\/p>\n

A significant problem with using Woodfinder is that many vendors are listed for woods that, upon further investigation, they do not offer.  I don’t know if perhaps once they did and they didn’t update their listings or if some vendors use a standardized list of woods that include most everything conceivable with the idea that once you land on their page you will find something you want to buy even if you didn’t know it beforehand.  It happens to me all the time!<\/p>\n

Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In its native range, there is a specialty market for Honey Locust furniture but this is not likely to be exported outside the native range of the tree.<\/p>\n

Honey Locust is also used in its native range for utility purposes, including fence posts because of its resistance to rot.<\/p>\n

Honey Locust is favored, again almost exclusively within its native range, for small specialty turned objects such as pens and bowls crafted by hobbyists.<\/p>\n

\"Side

Side Wall Honey Locust Bowl<\/p><\/div>\n

Aside from the value of the wood, the seeds from the prolific seed pods are a favored food source for many domestic and wild grazing animals.<\/p>\n

Historically, the legume pulp found inside the pods was used as a sweet food by Native Americans.  They were also able to brew a type of beer from this sweet pulp.<\/p>\n

Sustainability<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Honey Locust is not listed as being in any way threatened or endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices<\/a> nor does it appear on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Honey Locust is not subject to special restrictions by any United States government agency.<\/p>\n

I realize that inherent in working with wood is the killing of a part of the natural world that may be slow to return and if I become deeply concerned about this fact, I will have to find a new hobby.  I hope that such a time does not come to pass or at least not any time soon.  I am also very confident that the vendor from whom I purchased my stocks of Honey Locust sourced their material legally and responsibly.  In part because I am concerned about legally and responsibly obtained wood, I am reluctant to buy from sellers outside of well-established and known vendors.  I am highly unlikely, for example, to purchase exotic wood from auction sites, such as Ebay<\/a>, because of uncertain sourcing and documentation, as well as the potential, even likelihood, of material being misidentified in order to achieve a higher selling price.<\/p>\n

\"Reverse

Reverse Small Honey Locust Bowl<\/p><\/div>\n

However, due to the commercial scarcity of some domestic woods, resorting to auction sites such as Ebay or Etsy <\/a>may be the only way to obtain some desirable domestic, or in some cases exotic imported, species that are not routinely commercially harvested.  The potential risks of buying in these marketplaces have to be balanced against the desire to work with a specific species of wood.  That is inherently an individual decision.<\/p>\n

I also realize that many, if not most, wood workers do not have endangered species lists memorized, therefore I think it worthwhile and important to do even a small amount of research before purchasing any lumber, domestic as well as imported, to be certain of the potential impact you are having, even in a small way, on threatened or endangered populations.  This information is easy to come by and takes only minutes to locate through any Internet search engine, including those you can access on your phone as you are standing in the lumber yard or store.  Unfortunately, you simply cannot count on a vendor to tell you a product they are selling is endangered.<\/p>\n

Health Hazards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No specific allergic or other negative health reactions have been documented in response to exposure to Honey Locust wood or dust.<\/p>\n

However, the long-term negative effects of exposure to sawdust of any species are well documented.<\/p>\n

It is important to remember that although many people may, or may not, be sensitive to any given wood, the only experience that truly counts is your own, so use reported side effects as guidance but not as a substitute for cautious and safe practices.<\/p>\n

Appropriate protective equipment is therefore always recommended when working with this, or any other, wood, exotic or domestic, unless you have worked with the species before and are certain you are not sensitive to it.<\/p>\n

Complete information about health hazards<\/a> associated with a wide variety of exotic hardwoods is available from The Wood Database<\/a>.  Additional information about how to best use a dust collection system and personal protective equipment, such as respirators, can also be found through this excellent and comprehensive resource<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, I experienced no negative side effects when working with Honey Locust.<\/p>\n

My Personal Experiences<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the past I had purchased several small pieces of Honey Locust from a smaller local mill in southern Missouri.  The pieces were sold as rounds and I allowed them to air dry over several years before attempting to turn them.  The wood had distorted during drying but only by a small amount compared to other woods I have worked with.  I re-cut the blanks to round on the bandsaw prior to mounting them on the lathe for turning down into small bowls.<\/p>\n

I found that the Honey Locust cut extremely clean due to its hardness and density, characteristics which often make for an excellent turning wood.  I discovered delightful colors of pinks and yellows and golden hues throughout the wood, most of which I suspect was in fact sapwood, but it was lovely regardless.<\/p>\n

\"Interior

Interior Small Honey Locust Bowl<\/p><\/div>\n

Although other authorities claim that there is no distinctive scent to Honey Locust, with all five pieces that I worked with I detected a mild but distinctly sweet spicy scent when cutting.<\/p>\n

I did find that there was some slight roughness of the cut of the cross-grain, but this is not unusual with most any wood.  In any event, the blanks sanded down quite easily.<\/p>\n

I found the wood to have a very nice natural luster once sanded down to 800 grit.<\/p>\n

I was quite pleased with my experiences working with Honey Locust and I would gladly work with the wood again in the future.  In fact, I was so pleased with the experience that I quickly ordered additional supplies of larger turning blanks of this wood to use in my shop in the future, so beware that I am potentially in competition with you for the remaining stocks to be had from GotWood!<\/p>\n

As always, I wish all my readers a great experience in whatever their wood working interests happen to be and to those who like working with lathes especially, do a good turn today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I found that the Honey Locust cut extremely clean due to its hardness and density, characteristics which often make for an excellent turning wood. I discovered delightful colors of pinks and yellows and golden hues throughout the wood, most of which I suspect was in fact sapwood, but it was lovely regardless. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":175,"featured_media":1990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[128,138,139,130],"tags":[154,171,181,183,200,204,210,217,239,240,247,252],"yoast_head":"\nHoney Locust - Wood Turning Pens ..<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this post we will discuss the rarely used wood Honey Locust, which is a native of the eastern United States, hard, and quite lovely when polished.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.woodturningpens.com\/honey-locust\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Honey Locust - 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