Is black walnut a good turning wood?

Hi Reggie

If you find any make sure you send it to me, OK. I will make certain that it will be looked after properly !!!!!

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

It is, and since it will normally be air dried, it can display some subtlety of color that is very attractive. Unfortunately, subtle differences don't display as well as dramatic - spalt on birch, burl on cherry, etc.

For handling-size pieces it's a winner.

For users - well, I stopped for breakfast at a place in Missouri next to a factory which made thousands of segmented bowls per year out of dark brown, kiln-dried walnut for $35 each. Even bought one, which is without doubt the ugliest thing in the closet. Whenever I make a shape I don't like, I bring it out to bolster my spirits with the knowledge that there are thousands of ugly bowls sold every year.

Oh yes, it tends to lighten as it ages.

Reggie, this is very dangerous stuff you are talking about... especiall

the pieces with all that curl and swirly patterning to it... but since am certified to dispose of this material in a safe and sane manner, jus email me and we will arrange the safe transfer of all of it to m facility.... LOL

Walnut is very nice wood... it turns a whole lot nicer green that i does dry.. in fact dry walnut actually comes off in hot chips instea of curls when I do a bowl.. and my tools are real sharp... it sands an finishes nice and smooth and if you are lucky enough to get some wit some nice curl or burl effect in the grain it can look reall outstanding... Dry walnut is not a great wood for a beginning bowl turner because i is tough, but the green wood is sweet..

Definitely fine stuff. I got a butt section from a 4' diameter tree last summer. Spent the winter turning rough blanks. I'm currently finish turning the blanks here and there, as I have time. I don't think the grain is subtle at all. IMHO it beats the hell out of any other NA hardwood for beauty. I should perhaps qualify that. Sure tiger maple is prettier than a straight grained piece of black walnut. Put a piece of flame grained crotch black walnut next to that piece of tiger maple and I think the black walnut wins hands down. Email me if you want me to send you a photo or two of finished work.

Keep the dust out of your lungs and off your skin. Many people have a reaction to it. I don't, but I understand that it is possible to develop a sensitivity if you handle it a lot. Then it's almost impossible to "undevelop" the sensitivity.

I've turned a few small bits with it, I like it very much. Only problem I have is AFTER turning, hands pick up the color, get stained all brown. Only stuff I've found to remove this is bleach or oxyclean, both hard on the skin. Any suggestions out there?

I love Black Walnut. It dries very stable. Cuts like butter. Will take most any finish and looks beautifully. The one problem with Black Walnut is it is toxic. 10% Black Walnut shavings in a horses bedding will kill the horse. Use an mask and long sleeve shirt. Take a shower afterwards.

Good luck and good turning.

Henry

I have access to a fair amount of black walnut free, and I have found that it is beautiful stuff, especially with an oil finish. I also have found that it tends to dull the tools more quickly than other woods I have turned. I'm new to the art/craft, so the dulling tools may be due to my not-so-good technique more than the black walnut. Still, I think it looks really nice.

Henry wrote:

Leave the stain on your hands. Makes you look like a wood worker! If you need to get ir off use Goop which is a cream hand cleaner and is easy on the hands.

Black walnut is the native J nigra. Almost any walnut reproducing in the wild in the US should be J nigra.

It is rich in extractives in the heartwood, including some nasty stuff that can cause horses hoof problems. Also has a nut which has less overall meat, and a harder, packed shell than the "English" J regia. English walnut scions are normally grafted onto the more hardy black walnut roots in orchards.

So, if you got orchard wood, might be different than the wild stuff.

mac

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