Sanded robinia posts
A sanded post is a round post stripped of its bark and then of all its sapwood before sanding: only the heartwood remains, the durable part of the wood. We make them from robinia in our own factory in Romania. They are also called round logs: debarked trunks that are then sanded. Smooth surface, chamfered ends, no treatment: the post for playgrounds, pergolas and timber structures. Diameters from 6 to 40 cm, lengths up to 13 m, in stock. They leave our mill without notches or drill holes, ready to be machined and installed on site.
What are they used for?
Playgrounds and school yards: a material suited to the requirements of EN 1176, with no bark, no sapwood and no preservative.
Pergolas and arbours: posts and round beams, with a sawn flat for the joints. For the covering: our sanded eucalyptus poles.
Outdoor structures: shelters, canopies, furniture and landscaping.
For playgrounds and public spaces: robinia for playgrounds and local authorities.
Dimensions
Diameters: 6 to 40 cm (±1 cm), measured at mid-length, in 2 cm classes from 6-8 to 28-30 cm, then 30-35 and 35-40 cm.
Lengths: 0.5 / 0.8 / 1 / 1.2 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 2 / 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 / 4 m, then 5 to 13 m.
Finish: 100% of the sapwood removed, chamfer at both ends.
Appearance: natural shape following the tree's growth; black, hard, tight knots remain visible after sanding, with no effect on strength.
All dimensions in the sanded posts technical data sheet. For very large pieces, see also our long poles up to 13 m and our whole trees.
Common lengths and diameters
2 m and 2.50 m posts: Ø 6-8 to 30-35 cm.
3 m and 3.50 m posts: Ø 8-10 to 30-35 cm.
4 m posts: Ø 10-12 to 30-35 cm.
5 m posts: Ø 12-14 to 30-35 cm.
6 to 8 m posts: Ø 14-16 to 28-30 cm.
9 to 13 m posts: Ø 16-18 to 28-30 cm.
Shorter (0.5 to 1.80 m) for furniture and edging: all diameters from 6-8 to 30-35 cm. Sizes without a weight in the technical sheet are not produced, except in special cases.
Weight and loading
At equal diameter, a sanded post is slightly heavier than a round stake: sanding removes the sapwood, which is lighter than the heartwood, the dense core of the wood. The table below gives the weight of a robinia round stake by diameter and length: for a sanded post, allow a little more. Robinia density: 0.70 to 0.90 t/m³ depending on moisture. Example: a post 14-16 cm in diameter and 3 m long weighs a little over 41 kg.
Weight per post (kg), by diameter (D.) and length (L.)
Delivered by half or full truck all over Europe.
D. / L. | 0,8m | 1,2m | 1,6m | 1,8m | 2,0m | 2,5m | 3,0m | 3,5m | 4,0m | 5,0m | 6,0m | 7,0m | 8,0m | 9,0m | 10,0m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6-8 cm | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 |
8-10 cm | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 |
10-12 cm | 6 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 37 | 44 | 52 | 59 | 67 | 74 |
12-14 cm | 8 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 36 | 41 | 52 | 62 | 72 | 83 | 93 | 104 |
14-16 cm | 11 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 34 | 41 | 48 | 55 | 69 | 83 | 96 | 110 | 124 | 138 |
16-18 cm | 14 | 21 | 28 | 32 | 35 | 44 | 53 | 62 | 71 | 89 | 106 | 124 | 142 | 159 | 177 |
18-20 cm | 18 | 27 | 35 | 40 | 44 | 55 | 66 | 77 | 88 | 111 | 133 | 155 | 177 | 199 | 221 |
20-22 cm | 22 | 32 | 43 | 49 | 54 | 68 | 81 | 95 | 108 | 135 | 162 | 189 | 216 | 243 | 270 |
22-24 cm | 26 | 39 | 52 | 58 | 65 | 81 | 97 | 113 | 130 | 162 | 194 | 227 | 259 | 292 | 324 |
24-26 cm | 31 | 46 | 61 | 69 | 77 | 96 | 115 | 134 | 153 | 191 | 230 | 268 | 306 | 345 | 383 |
26-28 cm | 36 | 54 | 71 | 80 | 89 | 112 | 134 | 156 | 179 | 223 | 268 | 313 | 357 | 402 | 447 |
28-30 cm | 41 | 62 | 82 | 93 | 103 | 129 | 155 | 180 | 206 | 258 | 309 | 361 | 412 | 464 | 515 |
Sanded posts load like our round stakes: for the number of pieces per truck, see the round stakes table on our Products page. We deliver by full or part truckload (groupage costs charged).
Playgrounds: what EN 1176 says
EN 1176 governs the safety of play equipment — strength, no sharp edges or splinters, entrapment, safety zones — but does not prescribe any wood species. Robinia meets it by nature: heartwood in durability class 1-2 (EN 350), use class 4 (EN 335) without treatment, no biocide in contact with hands. We supply the timber; design, installation and compliance of the play equipment remain the job of the manufacturer or landscaper. Guide: robinia playgrounds and school yards: what EN 1176 really says.
Installation and care
The critical zone of a post is its foot, at ground level. Two durable methods: a concrete footing that stops below finished level or forms a sloping collar that sheds water, on draining gravel; or an offset post base that keeps the wood off the ground. Stainless steel fixings. Robinia needs no treatment or maintenance: it turns grey, may check on the surface and take a slight bow — that is normal. To limit end checks: wax or anti-split plates (options). Guide: robinia pergola: standard plans, from choice to installation.
Why robinia?
Robinia is Europe's most durable wood: natural durability class 1-2 (EN 350), use class 4 (EN 335) with no treatment at all, hard and dense. Compared with pressure-treated pine it costs more to buy but lasts far longer, with no chemicals. Its limits: long, perfectly straight lengths are rare and appearance varies from piece to piece. Robinia outdoors: the complete guide
How we sand our posts
Sanding robinia posts is done in two stages.
The first is to remove the bark and a large part of the sapwood using a debarker.
Acacia Poles
If the robinia trunks are too curved or too long, the bark is removed with a small, more manageable barker.
Then when the majority of the sapwood is removed, the wood must be sanded using a grinder with an abrasive disc.
Learn more about sanded robinia posts
Options
Pointing over 50 cm.
Sawn flat.
Drilling Ø 20, 30, 40 or 50 mm.
End wax to limit checking.
Anti-split plates.
Storage of the posts for drying.
FSC® 100% certification on request.
Order your sanded posts
Our sanded posts are in stock. We supply professionals — playground equipment makers, landscapers, carpenters, local authorities, timber merchants — across Europe, by half or full truckload, ex works. Send us your parts list (diameters, lengths, options) and we will reply with a quote. Private buyer? Write to us and we will refer you to a dealer near you. Request a quote
Frequently asked questions
What is a sanded post?
A debarked round post with all its sapwood removed, then sanded: only the heartwood remains, the durable part of the wood, with a smooth surface and chamfered ends.
Round log or sanded post: what's the difference?
None: it is the same product under two names. A sanded robinia log is a debarked trunk, stripped of all its sapwood, sanded and chamfered at both ends. Only the heartwood remains, the durable part of the wood.
Are sanded posts suitable for playgrounds?
Yes: the material is suited to the requirements of EN 1176 (no bark or sapwood, sanded, chamfered, untreated). The standard does not prescribe a species; compliance of the equipment lies with its manufacturer or installer.
Do sanded posts need treatment?
No. Robinia heartwood achieves use class 4 without any product. Avoid varnishes and thick stains, which crack and trap moisture.
What diameters and lengths?
6 to 40 cm in diameter and 0.5 to 13 m long. Very long, perfectly straight lengths are rare: state your tolerances in your enquiry.
How much does a sanded post weigh?
A little more than a round stake of the same diameter, because heartwood is denser than the sapwood removed. For example, a post 14-16 cm in diameter and 3 m long weighs a little over 41 kg; see the weight table on this page.
Does sanding remove the knots?
It smooths the surface but leaves black, hard, tight knots visible: a natural feature of robinia, with no effect on strength.
How many posts per truck?
As for our round stakes: see the table on our Products page. The quote states the exact load.
Do you have sanded posts in stock?
Yes. We deliver by half or full truckload across Europe. Request a quote.
Do your posts come unmachined?
Yes. Sanded or simply debarked, they leave without notches or drill holes, ready to be machined and installed. On request, we point them, saw a flat or drill them (see the options).
Is your timber EUDR-compliant?
Yes. Our timber is harvested in Romania and traced in SUMAL; we file the due diligence statement as the first operator. Details and documents provided: our EUDR page.