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Is Black Locust suitable for exterior window frames, with respect to warping, etc? They will be constructed to replace the origionals which were tennoned and glued together, holding a single pane of glass and each will swing out on hinges. (Don’t be bias if you never used this wood).
Also, what is the proper moisture content for wood used in this exterior application? (the homeowner is drying the Black Locust from green and is intent on using it).
Thanks in advance!
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Ben, you still want this rather dry for milling/shaping. Under 10% anyway. Warping? Dunno, haven't used black locust for anything other than posts, and other structural stuff where fragile things like glass were put on top, and not imbedded.
Mighty durable tho..
*Ben locust is one of thoose "forgotten" woods out there. Here in southern Md. you can see house which set on piers of black or honey locust. A walk thru the woods will show fence posts buried in the ground for years with no rot. The problem that I've had is that it wants to warp due to the grain. I've seen a few batten type doors that were made of the stuff with great grain. Mostly the stuff now is to twisted for much use. the other problem is that the stuff is harded then "steel" after it dries. You might be better off with redwood for your windows
*My grandfather's 1923 edition of Audel's Carpenter's & Builders guide lists locust as "Heavy, hard, strong and close grained. Very durable in contact with ground. Hardness increased with age. Color, brown and rarely light green with yellow sapwood. Used for posts and turned ornaments."Wooden shipbuilders and timber-framers have traditionally used black locust pegs (trunnels or 'tree-nails') in assembling hulls and frames.If you've ever split black locust firewood or fence rails you'll know how stringy and twisty the grain is.My sense is the advantage of great durability might be offset by hardness and difficult grain.Try the Forest Service, Forest Products Lab in Madison, WI.
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Is Black Locust suitable for exterior window frames, with respect to warping, etc? They will be constructed to replace the origionals which were tennoned and glued together, holding a single pane of glass and each will swing out on hinges. (Don't be bias if you never used this wood).
Also, what is the proper moisture content for wood used in this exterior application? (the homeowner is drying the Black Locust from green and is intent on using it).
Thanks in advance!