Hi,
I just joined this group so I am a newbie as well as a very novice woodworker.
I have the opportunity to harvest a black walnut tree that is scheduled to come down. It growing under a powerline. The tree is only about 10″-12″ in diameter. It’s very straight.
I have a idea for some chairs and I thought this might be the source of some turning material for the legs. I have no idea about the amount of sapwood and heartwood until it’s cut.
My question is: Since it’s not a very big tree should I cut the logs in quarters (quatersawn?) and dry the pieces to preserve turnable pieces or leave it in logs to dry? It would be air dried. My main concern is checking. To a lesser degree warping. I will of course seal the ends. Or maybe this is just firewood?
Any input is welcome.
JRMc
Replies
It's never just firewood to a woodworker. A tree this small could have a fair amount of sap wood. I, on occasion buy a reject curly maple logs and cut them into turning banks. The best way to proceed is to peel the first slab off and see what you have, then, to minimize drying defects and speed the dryng time, cut into pieces to give you the best yield as in 2x2, 3x3 or whatever size is suits you purpose. Seal the end grain,put on sticks and get it out of the hot dry wind. Walnut dries fairly quick so the biggest danger would be too much hot air too fast, especially with summer coming. I would avoid trying to dry the whole log, the bigger the section the greater the chance of checking. On some occaisions I'll go so far as to slightly hose down the pile (as in mist) to retard the drying process.
Armin is right, cut it down into as small of peices as you can and slow the drying down. One way to do this is to encase the pieces with the sawdust and shaving that comes off the logs. Besure to avoid any dirt, this will cause mold.
Jim F.
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