Black Walnut

Congratulations! BW is a gorgeous wood and turns very easily. Do you have a Chainsaw and a Bandsaw? You can do this w/o the BS, but it's much easier if you have one. First thing, and I mean today, get some anchorseal, or other endgrain sealer from your local Woodcraft or other local woodworking specialty store. Paint EVERY endgrain surface immediately and get the wood out of the sun and elelments. Off the ground and under a tarp at the very least. that buys you the time to get Bill Gumbine's video from

which'll show you haw to pricess the logs into bowls. As for the Areas where the branches come out, that may be the prettiest wood you've got for bowls. Crotchwood is where you get the flame. This is REALLY pretty when you cut it the right direction and finish it properly. The down side is that walnut is a nasty wood as are most pretty woods. WEAR a good mask as well as eye protection. Last suggestion is look at my sig line, follow the AAW link to the local chapters area and join both groups. You'll find a bunch of people who love to help newbies learn to turn. It'll save you from picking up bad habits and speed up you learning curve in a big way. Get the video. Dave in Fairfax

I use :

If the link is to long try this : Then in the search box put sealer. This stuff works great - and is lower cost than glue. It was made for it. Klingspor in N.C. is running a sale right now.

Martin

A small fortune? Maybe. The log will undoubtedly yield some decent lumber if sawed and seasoned properly. Or several bowl blanks, if you are a turner. The smaller limbs are less useful. The larger limbs are probably usable, but a limb that is 2" in diameter has very little worth. The very center of the logs and limbs, the pith, should be avoided because of it's propensity to warp. You have to consider the lighter sapwood, too. While turners might incorporate sapwood into a bowl, furniture makers probably would cut it out as waste. So, you don't have a "small fortune", but you have scored some decent wood for turning or a few smaller projects.

Barry

Barry:

To go a bit further into the issue...

Commercially, walnut is almost always steamed as a part of the kiln drying operation. The steam causes the pigment to migrate into the sapwood so that the sapwood can and is sold along with the heartwood. If one is home-drying though, it is not practical to do this so you either lose the sapwood or try to stain it.

Also, when commercial operations harvest walnut, they are looking for clear butt logs -- no branches to kill yield.

Bill

Barry N. Turner wrote:

Dave wrote: "As for the Areas where the branches come out, that may be the prettiest wood you've got for bowls. Crotchwood is where you get the flame. This is REALLY pretty when you cut it the right direction and finish it properly. The down side is that walnut is a nasty wood as are most pretty woods. WEAR a good mask as well as eye protection."

Dave, you're right about the crotchwood having the prettiest grain. Here's a black walnut, 19 1/2" platter I turned from that wood. (sure hope this link works!)

It came out so beautiful, I think it's a keeper until I turn something better. Nic, Dave is also right about the down side, many people develop an alergy to walnut and the dust is the culprit. Luckily I've never had a reaction and I've been turning black walnut for 15 years, albeit not a lot of it. As to your having a "fortune", yes, IF you had a lot more and was going to board it for re-sale (ala lumber yard quantity). I believe a lot of turners have found there are only a few items you can turn that will sell (if you sell your work). In the past few years I'll only take crotchwood because, of the 4 galleries/shops that sell my work none do very well with it. For some reason people like light-color wood for bowls and platters, perhaps something to do with food and dark wood? I have a few pictures on my website turnings pages that are black walnut. Happy Turning, Ruth

That's true. I am aware of the steaming process. I've heard that the steaming degrades the beauty of the wood somewhat though, in comparison to air-dried. Don't know if it's true or not.

Not many woods are as beautiful as Black Walnut if it is finished properly. I'm finishing up a small (7 1/2") Black Walnut bowl this weekend. It takes some effort to bring out that wonderful grain though.

Wish I had more of the stuff. I have some Black Walnut flat lumber that has been air-drying for about 30 years, but it's not thick enough for turning stock or bowl blanks.

Barry

Beautiful piece. Nice wood.

Barry

Thanks, Barry for the compliment on my walnut platter. By the way, you mentioned having dry lumber but didn't think it was thick enough to turn anything. The piece I turned that platter from was 1" thick to start. I got it from Barbara Gill, she has a sawmill in VA and a number of turners buy from her.

Ruth

It's true. Once you see it, you'll never forget it. The reds and purples are dull brown.

Sapwood remains soft and ugly, though brown.

Barry:

And maybe one last comment from me...

I don't much like turning walnut because of the smell -- especially when green. It has to be a pretty special piece before I am willing to deal with it.

Also, here in Missouri there is one of those businesses which churns out thousands of bad walnut bowls and advertises on billboards along the highway. They pretty much have spoiled the wood for me.

Bill

Barry N. Turner wrote:

I agree, great figure on the platter. I've been getting mine from a different sawmill out in Leesburg. I see 3 Barbara gills in VA, what city is she in?

Dave in Fairfax

Nice wood. Loosing one is almost a crime. Just remember, If you give shavings to your friends for horses... - Walnut will de-hoof the horse by dissolving it.

I've heard it for years in Walnut and horse country. I highly suspect it is true.

Martin

Martin and group: DO NOT USE WALNUT SHAVINGS for bedding for cloven hoofed animals. Horses in particular are very susceptible.

I had a guy who came and picked up my shavings to use for bedding. One day he showed up and wanted me to pay for his horse (who had to be put down!)...$2800! I learned then about walnut & horses. Didn't pay for the horse, as he came to me for the shavings. But he never spoke to me again.

Best regards, James Johnson

Hmmmmmmmm...........maybe I will have to re-think that. My Black Walnut flat lumber is 4/4, but not very wide. I have some boards that are perhaps

8" or 9" inches, but not nearly wide enough for a platter. Maybe a bread & butter plate?

Barry

Dave,

Barbara is in Urbanna, VA. I think her website is

but if that doesn't work, she's on my website links page. I also got a sample of that Velvit Oil and it's just about the smoothest feeling finish, it really does feel like velvet. Just thought I'd throw that in!

Ruth

Thanks, that was one of the three. I'll go take a look at her website. Is the Velvetoil a tung oil like finish or a shellac like finish? I suspect the former from your description. Thanks for the info, I'm always looking for a nifty finish.

Dave in Fairfax

Dave, it's more a tung oil finish, but it's a lot easier because it doesn't seem to get sticky if you don't wipe it off within a certain time. Barbara did all the floors in her house and walking on the barefoot was like walking on silk. It can be buffed to a sheen but not a shine, which I only do if someone really, really wants it. The velvit oil seems to give the wood that feel of a well-worn, 100-yr. old chair arm.....well, not exactly but close enough. And it's water resistant.

Ruth