Replies

1. 
   301 | Oct 22, 2004 06:23am | #1

   I get about 2 calls a month from people with similar stories: they all have a walnut tree and they are certain it is valuable but nobody wants it.  I don't know what to tell you.  Tree-cutters tell me they frequently get calls from people who want to "sell" them a walnut tree or who want them to "cut it down for free" in exchange for the wood.  I also have potential customers who want me to make a table from their air-dried walnut and will not listen to my rational for drying it (won't dry enough in my part of the country) so we do not do business.  I think the value of walnut is largely part of an urban belief story.  My lumber yard sells it for about $6.00 a board foot...less then cherry!

   Only thing I have ever heard of people actually selling is walnut burls.  They go by the pound and are usually sold undried.

   
   

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   Edited 10/21/2004 11:25 pm ET by el papa

1. 
   MichaelPB | Oct 22, 2004 07:16am | #2

   The big value in walnut is for gunstocks and it is only the truck and lower (usually) that yields anything good.  I know of a tree that sold in Chico last year for $45,000!  It was a HUGE Bastogne walnut tree that makes the finest blanks imaginable. 

   Most are too small for anything other than firewood, your 15" tree is one of those.  It takes a tree that is at least a couple feet in diameter to even yield a few usable stocks and it is only the occasional tree that yields nice ones and very rarely you get stunning ones.

   Lastly, black walnut, which is what most people have growing is the least valuable stock wood. 

1. 
   301 | Oct 22, 2004 08:32am | #3

   Furthermore, walnut trees only grow when they need to, when they are crowded out by other trees for example.  One in the family back yard is only 18" in diameter and always has been since we bought the place in 1970.  It will take decades and a lot of competition to make it spurt up big enough to become valuable.

2. 
   PatMcG | Oct 22, 2004 10:11am | #4

   Come to that, the fuel value of walnut is not great either.

2. 
   Curtis | Oct 22, 2004 12:10pm | #5

   I am sorry to say, I belive the others are right.

   Although, if you are going to cut down the trees anyhow, it might be worth it to call around. I had a walnut tree cut down two years ago that was 3 1/2 feet in dia. I lost count of the rings at 350. and still had a few inches to the core.

   The problem I had was it was a city tree, no one wanted it because it was going to have nails in it. I did a metal check, no nails could be found but still no one wanted to cut it up for me. I even offered to buy three new blades on top of the cost. still no takers.

   I called baileys  http://www.baileys-online.com/Mill.htm and told I wanted to see there saw live, and could they please give me a name of someone who bought there saw mill in my area.

   It worked! they gave me a couple of numbers.

   In short I finally got most of the tree cut. and it is some of the best walnut Ive seen in a long time. although It isn't cheap. $1500.00 to have the tree cut down and $350.00 to have it milled. two years for drying, (+ Ive only used a little.) and lots of phone calls.

   I wish you good luck. It might be worth your trouble , but...?

   sincerely.    

   C.A.G.
3. 
   jim | Oct 22, 2004 01:24pm | #6

   A few things to consider before cutting a sixteen inch walnut down.

   1  Lose at least one inch to bark.

   2  Lose at least two inches to sap wood[open grown trees have much more.]

   3  The center six or seven inches will include lots of knots and the pith will split.

4. 
   adrienne4468 | Oct 22, 2004 06:12pm | #7

   I wish I was in your area. Unlike popular opinion here walnut is valuable to me as my wife wants all her living room furnature made out of it. I do have my own mill and kiln but you are too far away. I collect all I can get of walnut right now.

   We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.
1. 
   Curtis | Oct 23, 2004 12:58am | #8

   Where are you?

   theres always a need for the sawmiller in my eara.

   If you are looking for walnut,and other fine woods and are not afaraid on city trees, I would suggest looking into tree serveces, The ones ive meet, are looking for someone to get rid of some of there work. the larger trunks are hard on the back and equipment to get rid of. ask a few if eather you can pick up some of there trees, or ask them to let you know when thay have a tree that thay may need of your help.

   GOTA RUNN! good luck.C.A.G.

1. 
   adrienne4468 | Oct 25, 2004 05:05pm | #10

   I have more than enough wood just picking up the trees off from lawns from storms. I have about 6 cherry trunks and 3 oak trunks to cut right now and cant get to them. The 4 kids take up alot of time. I find that if I can only get three 8" wide boards that are 8 ft long it is worth the hour to cut up the small tree. The leftover I use for firewood. The three boards if bought at $6.00 per bd ft would be $96.00. Not bad for an hour and some time waiting.

   Tony

   We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.

5. 
   CharlieP | Oct 23, 2004 05:32pm | #9

   One 15 inch diameter tree isn't that big, but here is something to consider. 

   I know someone who had several far larger black walnut trees crowding the house on a small farm.  The best they could do was pay hundreds of dollars to have them removed, so they left them in place.

   When the later sold the farm, the buyer found someone interested in the trees and earned enough from the sale of the trees to more than pay off the mortgage - got the farm for free!

   I heard about one sawyer in Iowa who changes an hourly fee plus the cost of the blades, so is willing to cut urban trees.

   Bottom line, don't give up too easily. 

   ________________________
   Charlie Plesums  Austin, Texas
   http://www.plesums.com/wood