Replies

1. 
   Curtis | Jan 16, 2003 05:32am | #1

   I had a walnut tree hit a few years ago, we cut it down and turned it into usable lumber. the eara that was effected was spungie and we could not use it, but the rest of the wood was in great shape."O" even if dead and still standing you will find the tree is no ware close to being dry. I bet you will find nothing but green and white wood there, But dont worry it will darken soon. ;)

   Good luck sawing, I hope there is lots of good wood there for you to use.   C.A.G.

1. 
   jgaiennie | Jan 16, 2003 05:49pm | #2

   Curtis,

   You sound as if you may know -

   I sawed into some air dried walnut a couple of years ago (had allegedly been stickered a couple of years).  Much to my surprise, it was white inside, and still very wet.  I went on and cut my cabriole legs and built the little table because it was the wood that I had and I was on a roll.  The table was nice enough anyway, but some what of a dissappointment with the white streaked legs.  I didn't finish it because of the moisture, so I put it in the house unfinished for a year or so to dry.  Within about a month the wood was all brown and normal looking.  Now it's finished and fine and a good looking piece.  So my question to you:  Is this characteristic of walnut? - that is: this initial white color when it's wet / green.  And if you know, what is the normal air drying time for stickered walnut?  I've heard a year per inch of thickness for many woods, but this walnut didn't dry in that time.  My rough piece I used for the legs was about 2 1/4" thick.  The 4/4 wood that I had that was cut from the same tree was apparently adequately dried.

   jdg

1. 
   Curtis | Jan 17, 2003 01:06pm | #4

   1 inch per year of thickness is the general rule of thumb. I also restack my lumber a number of times a year,as well as take moisture readings every few months.

   your table leg sounds like everything turned (:) please excuse the pun) out great! green wood is realy fun to turn on the lathe.  true the wood will not take a stain but who needs it on air dryed walnut. In your case if you try useing green lumber again. try useing wood wax to seal the parts, its easy to put on, realy slows down the drying process, and is easy to remove latter if you  do not like the hue of the wood.

   I found a man who has a Lucas saw mill. this mill cuts the wood with out moveing it.

   sorta different but whats neat is, it uses a  round sawblade to cut instead of a band to cut the wood. the blade moves through the wood quickly and he was able to quartersaw most of my walnut with no problems . the wood is more stable and people cant belive I have quartersawed walnut. belive me its realy worth the price.

   good luck with your future projects.  C.A.G.

   Edited 1/17/2003 5:09:30 AM ET by curtis

2. 
   timberrattler | Jan 16, 2003 05:58pm | #3

   Worst case it would probably make a great baseball bat.

1. 
   booch | Jan 17, 2003 08:00pm | #5

   Yes it would be a natural as bat material.Jack of all trades and master of none - you got a problem with that?