R4's vs. Locust tree thorns

[blackie65]

I have several locust? trees in my woods (East Central Indiana). They have clusters of what appear to be some pretty substantial (nasty) thorns on them. I am wanting to cut a few of these down as they are right along trails that my kids frequent. I have a few questions about them.
1. Do they make good firewood?
2. How do these thorns get along with R4 tires and for that matter UTV/ATV tires?
3. Any tips on getting them down and dealing with the thorns?

They look like they hurt
I will try and get a picture so you can see what I am talking about.

 

[smstonypoint]

I have several locust? trees in my woods (East Central Indiana). They have clusters of what appear to be some pretty substantial (nasty) thorns on them. I am wanting to cut a few of these down as they are right along trails that my kids frequent. I have a few questions about them.
1. Do they make good firewood?
2. How do these thorns get along with R4 tires and for that matter UTV/ATV tires?
3. Any tips on getting them down and dealing with the thorns?

They look like they hurt
I will try and get a picture so you can see what I am talking about.

1. According to this site, they have a fairly high BTU content.

Sweep's Library - Firewood BTU Comparison Charts


2. Not well.

3. I've used glyphosate (generic Roundup) with success on foliar applications to saplings less than 6' feet in height. For larger locusts, you can use the cut-stump method -- cut down the tree and spray or brush the stump with a high concentration of glyphosate. I use a 50-50 mix of diesel fuel and 41% glyphosate, but a more diluted mix may work. The locusts will resprout if you do not treat the stump. *

Good luck.

Steve

* I've heard old-timers say that they will not resprout if you cut them during the right sign of the moon, but I've yet to figure out when that is.

 

[looknlearn]

locust is all we would like to burn if we could get a constant supply. The reason that we like it is because it will burn just as well green as seasoned. We get it fresh cut and put immediately in the basement to burn.

 

[blackie65]

locust is all we would like to burn if we could get a constant supply. The reason that we like it is because it will burn just as well green as seasoned. We get it fresh cut and put immediately in the basement to burn.

do you just cut all the thorns off like you were cutting limbs?

 

[6thgpSF]

I've cut black locust and honey locust.Honey locust has the big thorns,I just use the chain saw to clean the thorns off.Both are easy to split and both make good heat in the stove.Honey locust thorns are a no no in tires and black locust can be a problem too.When I was a kid my folks had a honey locust tree and I stepped on a thorn.It was a big time hurt. russ

 

[looknlearn]

do you just cut all the thorns off like you were cutting limbs?

The stuff we get is old enough that there are no thorns on the trunks. I think it has to get 6-7 inches in diameter before it gets to where there are no thorns. I have only dealt with black locust.

 

[rekees4300]

I have several locust? trees in my woods (East Central Indiana). They have clusters of what appear to be some pretty substantial (nasty) thorns on them. I am wanting to cut a few of these down as they are right along trails that my kids frequent. I have a few questions about them.
1. Do they make good firewood?
2. How do these thorns get along with R4 tires and for that matter UTV/ATV tires?
3. Any tips on getting them down and dealing with the thorns?

They look like they hurt
I will try and get a picture so you can see what I am talking about.

They are Honey Locust. Have several on my property. They are PITA.

1. Do they make good firewood?
Yes they rank right up there with Hickory and White Oak.

2. How do these thorns get along with R4 tires and for that matter UTV/ATV tires?
They will flatten an R4 in a nanosecond. Been there done that.

3. Any tips on getting them down and dealing with the thorns?
Remove the thorns from trunk with a chainsaw then cut the tree down. After the tree is on the ground, remove the small limbs and stack them in a pile far enough away from the tree to give yourself some room. Remove all remaining thorns from the trunk and big limbs then cut up the tree like any other tree into stove size lengths. You have to be careful with the thorns as they are incredibly sharp. Wear heavy leather gloves/boots, safety glasses, and puncture resistant clothes like a coverall or chaps.

 

[grnspot110]

Honey locust is very good fire wood! As stated, burns as good, if not better green than dry. I use Tordon to kill the stumps, if a tree is really thorny & not in the way, I cut a saw kerf through the bark & squirt Tordon in the kerf. ~~ grnspot110

 

[blackie65]

Thanks for all the info. Not worried about dropping the tree just those $%&@* thorns being left to step on or puncture a tire. So glad to hear they are going to be useful as fuel though.

 

[newbury]

Ok so you've got kids that can walk. If they can walk along trails they can wear PPE and drag limbs.
We spent a good portion of my spare time helping my Dad and Grandfather clearing locust over a few acre in Vermont when I was about 10 and my brother 8. Thick gloves, protective glasses, boots. Lotsa thorns in the side till you learned, built a character.


Actually the best way to clear it is to maybe claim it's a terrorist enclave and get it firebombed, napalm in the morning.

Foam the R4's.

 

[jlsmith]

Thorn vs R4's = WINNER is the THORNS :smiley_aafz:

 

[MoKelly]

Those thorns are the nastiest things ever created. Unfortunately, my wife actually likes the way the tree looks and won't let me cut any down until they die. I have hurt myself more than once trying to weed under those things.

My neighbor tells me even if you cut them down and burn the branches the thorns do not burn. Is that true?

MoKelly

 

[jlsmith]

Those thorns are the nastiest things ever created. Unfortunately, my wife actually likes the way the tree looks and won't let me cut any down until they die. I have hurt myself more than once trying to weed under those things.

My neighbor tells me even if you cut them down and burn the branches the thorns do not burn. Is that true?

MoKelly

I cut and burned arund 30 this summer and ever place i cut one i now have 3 to 4 saplings growing. I just started digging them up and dumping in a hole i had.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Chemicals are about the only way to get rid of honey locust permanently.

Be very careful when you cut them down. Those thorns will go through just about anything. Eye protection is a MUST.

This should go under the "Things that I have learned" section but never ever mow the suckers. In my younger and dumber days I mowed a small stand of them. Apart from growing back, those thorns can lay on the ground for years and they'll getcha every time. 13 flats later I saw the error of my ways. I'm not too quick at times.

Foam filling your tires is the only surefire protection. Slime and lots of it can help a bit if they're not loaded. They'll do a number on R4's and Ag tires both.

 

[blackie65]

Ok so you've got kids that can walk. If they can walk along trails they can wear PPE and drag limbs.
We spent a good portion of my spare time helping my Dad and Grandfather clearing locust over a few acre in Vermont when I was about 10 and my brother 8. Thick gloves, protective glasses, boots. Lotsa thorns in the side till you learned, built a character.


Actually the best way to clear it is to maybe claim it's a terrorist enclave and get it firebombed, napalm in the morning.

Foam the R4's.

Boys are 13 and 14 and are great help!!!

what do you mean by "Foam the R4's ?

 

[6thgpSF]

I think they mean you can get foam injected into your tires to make em flat proof.Black Locust is a bugger to control too however they make great fence posts unlike honey locust which will rot in a couple yrs. russ

 

[MossRoad]

Just remember that if you foam your tires and ever need to adjust tire pressure for traction reasons, you can't. They become solid tires after you foam them.

 

[blackie65]

I am strongly considering slime or something like that. Make sure I have a can with me and maybe i will get lucky and not need it. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[blackie65]

I have several locust? trees in my woods (East Central Indiana). They have clusters of what appear to be some pretty substantial (nasty) thorns on them. I am wanting to cut a few of these down as they are right along trails that my kids frequent. I have a few questions about them.
1. Do they make good firewood?
2. How do these thorns get along with R4 tires and for that matter UTV/ATV tires?
3. Any tips on getting them down and dealing with the thorns?

They look like they hurt
I will try and get a picture so you can see what I am talking about.

finally got around to getting a photo. not sure how it will turn out as it was taken from a cell phone.

 

[newbury]

That picture brings back nightmares!
Bloody nightmares.