Debarking Hornbeam

[biomike1000]

I have just felled some Hornbeam to be used as posts and cross beams for a forest gym.

 

Just wanted to check if:

 

1. Do I need to debark it.

2. Do I need to treat the section of the post that is going to be in the ground.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[Cuttup]

Hornbeam is not durable but it will take preservative, so yes I would put something on the stuff going in the ground. I would also remove the bark, it will only encourage beasties which you probably won't want. Is there a specific reason you chose hornbeam for your project? Good strong timber, but not the best outdoors...

[se7enthdevil]

as already said, use something else as it won't last five minutes in soil or outside for that matter. i recommend you get english oak or robinia.

[biomike1000]

When you say 'not durable' and 'not the best outdoors' be can you expand on that. Reason I have used it is that I have excessive amounts of it on the land I am using.

[timbernut]

Hornbeam is stronger than oak in some respects and as wel as being used for toothed gears was used for industrial flooring as it doesn't readily splinter. Using outside is a big no no as it will deteriorate very quickly (relatively speaking), and you will feel your effort has been wasted! I'm speaking from experience😄

[wills-mill]

When you say 'not durable' and 'not the best outdoors' be can you expand on that. Reason I have used it is that I have excessive amounts of it on the land I am using.

 

Specifically- It will rot off and snap like a carrot within a year. Specifically, the swinging gym member will plummet to the floor and be walloped by the descending Hornbeam.

 

If you have plenty of it, you might be best selling it for lovely firewood and/or swapping some hornbeam for Sweet Chestnut posts. Which will not follow the same rot + plummet curve.

[timbernut]

Good advice one of the best firewoods👍!

[Cuttup]

Biomike1000. I think other members have covered the qualities of Hornbeam... but FYI timbers are broadly classified into terms such as: non-durable 0-5 years; moderately durable 5-15 years; durable 15-25 years; very durable 25+ years. These times, generally, refer to how long decay becomes obvious. So starting at the bottom of the durability scale would be common British species such as Hornbeam, Birch most spruces etc ND; European Larch, Westren Red Cedar etc MD; Sweet Chestnut etc D; Oak etc VD. This is just a guide but you see there is a spectrum and some species are simply not suitable for outdoor use as they will perish very quickly such as our mate Carpinus betulus. By the way if you've got any good sticks it might be worth more to a sawmill than a fireplace. Wills-mill. I do like your specifics!

[timbernut]

One wood that is really durable is leylandii, surprises a lot of people😄