Replies

1. 
   JeffHeath | Sep 20, 2006 01:53am | #1

   no problem to burn walnut.  Proper ventilation is, of course, a given.

   Jeff

2. 
   joinerswork | Sep 20, 2006 02:48am | #2

   izzy,

   Never had any health problems burning walnut scraps, or firewood, for that matter.  In a fireplace, walnut does have a tendency to "pop", and throw sparks, so caution is recommended.  Not as bad as Osage orange in that regard, but I wouldn't leave the room for any length of time if burning walnut in an open fireplace, for fear of returning to a burning rug.

   Regards,

   Ray Pine

3. 
   stantheman | Sep 20, 2006 04:46am | #3

   Its sold for smoking in the BBQ. 

1. 
   polarsea1 | Sep 20, 2006 07:11am | #4

   Watch out for mango wood!

4. 
   tinkerer2 | Sep 21, 2006 05:41am | #5

   Heated my house one winter about twenty years ago with mostly walnut.  Didn't see any ill affects.  Will be seventy four next birthday.
1. 
   izzycat | Sep 21, 2006 08:28pm | #6

   Thanks, that's exactly the kind of endorsement I was looking for!  I have a dead walnut tree in my yard that I'm going to have to cut down, and would hate to just throw away all of that wood, but was concerned about giving myself some rare lung disease.  Thanks again.

1. 
   dull tool | Sep 22, 2006 07:14am | #7

   That walnut tree may be dead but it still may be good for lumber rather than firewood. Cut off a limb about 2 feet long and split it in half to see what it looks like, you may be surprised!!!

1. 
   izzycat | Sep 22, 2006 08:03pm | #9

   I'm definitely hoping to get some usable lumber out of the larger sections, but it's a 40' tree - there's going to be a lot left over! 

1. 
   Biscardi | Sep 22, 2006 10:42pm | #10

   It is OK to burn, but not a great firewood as it doesn't seem to give off much heat.

   My handyman helper and good friend Keith Huckstep says,

   "The optimal wood to burn is what ever is at hand"

   Frank

    

2. 
   QCInspector | Sep 23, 2006 01:01am | #11

   "it's a 40' tree - there's going to be a lot left over! "What! Can't you find any deserving woodworkers in your town? ;-)

3. 
   izzycat | Sep 23, 2006 02:50am | #12

   I have to admit I'm greedy and selfish.  Assuming it is any good, I plan to harvest all the usable wood I can.  But unless there's someone around making walnut toothpicks, I think a lot of the tree will have to be donated to the fireplace.

2. 
   MarkRD | Sep 24, 2006 11:24pm | #15

   Yes you will get a rare disease. So rare in fact that it will kill you long after you are dead :-)Measure it with a Micrometer,

   Mark it with Chalk,

   Cut it with an Ax.

   Visit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

5. 
   ohcomeon | Sep 22, 2006 03:22pm | #8

   Burns great if you have walnut burl or crotch wood.  Much denser, so it burns longer.

   Just kidding!

   Seriously think about what someone else said and look at salvaging some pieces.  I got some great 2-3' pieces of cherry from a big stump.  Some has great figure and I've been using it for smaller projects.

   JH

6. 
   BruceS | Sep 23, 2006 04:12pm | #13

   How dead is dead, and how long ?   Turning bowls or pens may be an option. Lets see 100,000 pens at $15-$20 each (nice retirement stash)  I know a girl who turned and sold pens and that put her through College.    Or try a local turning Club and sell the lumber.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   izzycat | Sep 24, 2006 06:46am | #14

   It was alive and producing tasty walnuts two years ago, then one half of it suddenly died, then by this summer the other half died.  There are still a few stray leaves here and there, but they're pretty few and far between.  I don't know much about milling lumber - I would assume less dead is better than more dead?  The idea of turning pens has always been appealing, but from a lumber perspective I have visions of me hoarding every twig off the tree and with a mad laugh telling people to "stay away from my wood!"  We'll see.