Thoughts on Black Locust?

[n80]

When my son-in-law found out I was starting to make pipes he brought me a nicely dried log of black locust.

So far I have only made pipes in walnut simply because it is what I had.

I've got some briar on the way.

Anyway, my main reason for wanting to give the locust a try, besides its excellent hardness, is that this particular piece has stunning yellow and brown grain. The ends of the piece have aged to a more russet color. The grain has horizontal and vertical lines and is iridescent. I would like to maintain the yellow that I'm seeing in the fresh cut pieces.

Of course I have nothing to lose and plenty of the wood so no reason not to give it a try. Any thoughts on how to orient the grain for best effect?

Thanks,

George

[n80]

To answer my own post: I cut some slabs of the black locust on the band saw and then cut a cylinder out of it with a hole saw. I cut this cylinder in the long axis of the grain, in other words, in the same axis as the log lengthwise. I sanded it to 1000 grain, buffed it, put some tong oil on it and then buffed it with carnuba. The wood is beautiful and and dense. Buffs to a very high gloss. I'm going to start on a pipe tomorrow. However, I think I will orient the grain on the short axis.

I'll post a picture if I finish it just so folks can see what the wood looks like....not for critique...I'm a raw beginner.

George

[DocAitch]

Makes great tool handles, fence posts, billy clubs, and martial arts staves.
Also used as foundation logs for log cabins.
Otherwise, I’m sticking to briar, morta, olive and cobs.
DocAitch

[KurtHuhn]

Locust can taste bad due to the resins and stuff in it. If you boil it repeatedly and dry it, like briar, it might be fine. I have some processed in this way, but have not made a pipe out of it - though I have used it as shank extensions and caps for calabashes.