hardwood · Robinia pseudoacacia
Black Locust wood properties
Also known as: robinia, false acacia.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Robinia pseudoacacia |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 2,050,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.77 |
| Density (approx) | 48 lb/ft³ (4.0 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 1,700 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 7.2% / 4.6% |
| Region | Central and eastern United States |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Black Locust weighs about 16.0 lb (roughly 48 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,700 lbf is harder than about 73% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: fence posts, flooring, furniture, boatbuilding, turned objects, veneer.
Durability: Very durable and weathers well; long favored for fence posts left outdoors.
Workability: Dense and hard, machining proves tough and edges dull moderately; steam-bends and turns superbly; finishes and glues well.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Black Locust:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Black Locust is not listed in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient table (Popular Woodworking reproduction), so CT/CR are omitted. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.