For an upcoming project I am considering using some waney edge walnut, 4/4 or a little more, for shelves. I’m not real picky about the exact species. Sapwood is OK as long as it’s mixed with heartwood. This is for a wall unit: there’s a desk (sort of), cabinet storage (will be walnut veneer), and open shelves above. The shelves will vary in length and width. I’m after a real organic look, thus the desire for the edge. I don’t care if the bark is still present, I can remove it or I might leave it. The shelves will vary from 12″ wide to 3″ and will probably all vary in width too. This isn’t your ordinary piece.
I’m in Alaska. There is no source for lumber of this sort here. I’ve been looking at a variety of internet sources. I’ve found one source in Calif. that has some I’m interested in. But I’d like other sources. Have you got one? The lumber should be ready to use, not green.
Don’t be inhibited by thinking, “he won’t want to pay shipping.” High freight costs are a fact of life here. I recently bought a small slab of walnut and the shipping just about doubled the cost.
Replies
I will have to look tomorrow, How much do you need. I have more 8 and 12/4 than
4/4, but I am not sure if the thicker is dry yet. I am in AR.
Frenchy, where is Frenchy?! He might be able to help too. I have two flitches, but they ain't goin' anywhere, sorry!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"I'm in Alaska. There is no source for lumber of this sort here."
Where are you? Chicken? Tok?
You might be able to get something from down south where there are trees - around Juneau - but it'd be unlikely to be hardwood.
So much high-quality lumber gets shipped from the southern 48 to Asia that it seems likely that some of the shipments might take a detour through Alaska on the way.
Good luck,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Sorry sapwood, I guess I was just remembering a couple of boards that didn't get into the stacks which I leaned up against the back of the shop. There is only one left. I cut all of the sapwood off of all of my thicker lumber.
This place is closer than California and might have what you are looking for.http://www.westwindhardwood.com/price.html
Thanks to all for the responses. I'm in the midst of travel, thus the tardy response. I'm still looking. I'm hoping that someone knows of a mill that has something I can use. Most suppliers have lumber that's been at least sawn into planks. I want material that still has the natural tree edge. And, I don't need material that is too wide. Branches with a severe taper to them would be great. Maybe I'm barking up a wrong tree. (sorry)Anchorage has lumber suppliers, but nothing like I need here. Southeast Alaska, while geographically closer to America, lacks its own hardwood and building supplies there are not at all diverse. I can ship something to or from the east coast for less money then from Juneau.
Try Edensaw Woods in Washington State. If you call, call the Port Townsend number (the original site). I shop there periodically, they are very helpful. Just finished building a huge new warehouse I believe.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
You may want to try here, if you haven't already:
http://walnutwoods.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=NW&Category_Code=ttslabs
sapwood,
You should have called me yesterday!
Down at the bootom of my pile of walnut are about ten 4/4 boards of Black Walnut.. plain cut with it's bark still on it. Nice and dry planks as wide as 22 inches.. But it's under 6000 bd.ft. of balck walnut with absolutely no place to restack it and dig them out.. Next month when I move that particular pile I'll see them again.. If you haven't found any by then let me know..
Thanks frenchy. I've sent you an email message.
Sapwood: Sorry about coming in late but Google "Golby walnut products". He is in Oregon and he has more walnut than anybody else on the west coast. He has a great web site with one whole section showing pictures of waney /slab walnut -maybe a 100 pieces or more. Not cheap but well worth it. If not on his site,tell Gary what you want and he will find it for you. Also he is set up to ship anything so getting to Alaska should be no problem. Lee2
Thanks, I'll check him out.
Try A&M woods. Address is http://www.forloversofwood.com
Steven
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