Help! Black locusts posts delivered but are they locust?

[mstraebel]

We're building a horse pasture fence of about 6 acres. Had initial order of black locust posts delivered today--about 120 of the 330 we've ordered. A carpenter friend was helping me. He said many of the posts looked very much like red oak to him. Now I am starting to worry. The order was specifically for black locust. I have a call into the supplier/lumberman, but is there any way I can verify for myself that I'm getting what I paid for which is black locust--not red oak.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Gods Country]

Judging by these two pics its pretty obvious the difference.


I can't say for sure about the locust, but the red oak around here resembles
the first pic.

These are googled images BTW.

 

[mstraebel]

Thanks for the photos. The supply we received today seems to be split between two species. One is yellowish in color and has very little smell to it. It seems a bit harder when I pound a nail into it. The other posts are a bit more pinkish in color and they have a stronger odor. They really do look like two different types of wood.

 

[Rustyiron]

The locust that I know is a yellow/greenish color not sure on the odor but the other does sound like it may be oak, it has a deffinite smell/color. If theyr both "green" they should be about the same weight. If they are dry, good luck driving a staple or nail in them. I think that the oak will be ok but if you paid for locust.........

 

[2458n]

My bet would be on Cedar posts. The red oak does not have any special smell around here. Black locust is a kind of yellowish green and heavy when green. 300 poles are alot of work.

 

[mstraebel]

I think they are all green. And they are very heavy! Locust is said to last a lot longer in the ground than oak, so that's why I'm concerned. I've tried to compare Google images, but it's hard to tell from on-line photos. I was hoping there might be some definitive test to determine what I have on hand.

 

[tony Cecil]

I know the locust will leave your hand black when you handle it, and it is really dense for driving any nail.......Tony

 

[arrow]

Could be honey locust which has a pleasnt smell to it and kind of a pinkish peach color. Different species entirely from black locust. Black locust bark is considerably more variegated than honey. Black locust will also be heavier. If there are still any thorns showing, honey locust can have no thorns or many long thorns. Black locust thorns are much shorter. As far as tests. If you shine a black light on the wood of a hohey locust, it turns a spectacular yellow.

 

[ayelvington]

The locust that I know is a yellow/greenish color not sure on the odor but the other does sound like it may be oak, it has a deffinite smell/color. If theyr both "green" they should be about the same weight. If they are dry, good luck driving a staple or nail in them. I think that the oak will be ok but if you paid for locust.........

I'm with Rustyiron on the color. Sometimes the yellow even looks orange. I get black locust from the Amish, and I cut some myself. The only other test is to burn some. Black Locust smells like burning garbage, but it's **** hot and great for an all-night fire in the boiler...

 

[mstraebel]

Maybe I'll try the black light and the "burning" tests! Perhaps the pinkish posts are honey locust. I'll try weighing them to see if there is a difference, and will see if I get any black from handling them to indicate that it is black locust.

What do you mean by black locust being more "variegated" than honey locust? Does that mean more variation in the grain of the wood?

Thanks, again, everyone!