Replies

1. 
   johnhenry | Feb 22, 2010 03:52pm | #1

   I bought some old walnut for a crossbow project and he had it drying in his barn for 15 years.

   Dead standing wood can be problematic at times, but if you allow it time to dry, it should check little. This guy cut the tree into rough pieces with the pith near the center. My experience with drying wood shows sawn pieces with this included tend to check worse than others. A pear tree I had sawn dried nicely except for the center piece.

   I would be more concerned with embedded metal from fences and kids building tree forts. Of the two pieces of walnut I had, I faced the first with a router, a crib around it and a carbide 1/2" bit. The piece LOOKED good but still had 3 embedded nails in it, ruining the colour of it.

   I haven't cut into the second one yet.

   
2. 
   PheasantHunter | Feb 22, 2010 09:03pm | #2

   I can't tell from you post
   I can't tell from you post what shape this wood is in, is it still standing as a tree? Cut into firewood size rounds? Is it checked on the outside (cracked).

   I suspect the wood is still 'green'or wet on the inside, if so cut into blocks and coat the ends with end sealer, is one option until you can turn it. Sealing the ends and splitting the rounds in half will buy you time until you turn it (also keep it out of the sun). Or my preferred option is to rough turn the bowls while green. You can go to youtube and see video of bowls being turned green. There is lots of info on turning out on the web and also lots of local wood turning clubs (check out American Assoc. of Woodturners).

   Have fun, black walnut is one of the nicest woods to turn and it looks great.

3. 
   RalphBarker | Feb 24, 2010 12:40pm | #3

   Note that you can also talk to your blocks, inspiring them to dry evenly so as to become all that they can be.  It's best to do that when no one else is around, though. ;-)