Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | May 13, 2004 04:53am | #1

   Well, if you had them slab cut 2" thick you could then use your bandsaw to saw out about 10 or so 2" square turning blanks from each log.  Do you have access to anyone with a lumber cutting band saw to do the initial slab cuts?

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   Jellyrug | May 13, 2004 05:02am | #2

   No problem to cut them, I have a bandsaw with 12" resawing ability and if the log is too big, I start with a chain saw.

   The big question is whether after a year or so, the boards from these smaller trees will dry without too much checking and warping.

   Willie

2. 
   joinerswork | May 13, 2004 02:41pm | #3

   Jellyrug,

   Generally walnut trees that size have a LOT of sapwood.  Probably 1/3 to 1/2 of the log.  So not much usable yield from them.

   Regards,

   Ray

1. 
   jackplane | May 13, 2004 03:41pm | #4

   Joiner's work is right, they'll have a LOT of sapwood which at this stage in their juvenile age makes them warp a great deal. IMO, unless the guy cut these down to clear property, he is a fool and has committed an almost criminal act. Walnut trees take 80 to 90 years to reach full maturity to harvest.

3. 
   tsproul | May 13, 2004 07:33pm | #5

   get 'em if you've got the room to dry them.

   walnut is easily air-dried.

   Don't worry about the sap/heart. You can make striking panels from those logs.....for use as table tops or doors or whatever.

   flitch cut the logs and be sure to mark the boards in sequence and per log....say log A, board 1 - A1...

   Tim
1. 
   Jellyrug | May 13, 2004 08:52pm | #6

   Thanks for all the advice.

   I contacted the owner, this is a large orchard with several acres of walnut.

   The trees are about 20 years old, but they were planted on agricultural land with a very high water table. Apparently this inhibited growth and productivity, as walnut does not like it's feet to get wet. He will be replacing these with Almond.

   The trees are grafted with English Walnut.

   I will get about six or so logs and see how it goes.

   Willie

4. 
   fdampier5 | May 14, 2004 01:11am | #7

   to prevent warping and checking,  do this,

     Sticker them up about 12 inches apart. make certain the stickers are dry and all the same thickness.. align the stickers so that they are directly above the sticker below(very important..)  then make certain they don't warp by strapping the wood together.. use those cheap little ratcheting straps directly over stickers, snug everything down and a week or two later go back and resnug everything to gether..

     Try to keep the wood out of direct sunlite, when sawing the wood try not to have the center or pith in any board...  

1. 
   forestgirl | May 14, 2004 07:22pm | #8

   FDAMPIER, was it you who posted in another thread about using those ratcheting straps???  I want to thank you!  I've been wonder how the heck to dry short pieces of maple (2-3 feet long) from a tree that was cut in the neighborhood recently -- someone got to it before I did, so I couldn't get the 8' pieces I wanted.  I'm going to try the ratcheting method and then stack the resulting units.  Thanks again.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   fdampier5 | May 14, 2004 09:31pm | #9

   I may have posted it but I can't claim credit.  i learned that trick here, just passing it on.. It works well!

2. 
   Jellyrug | May 16, 2004 07:01am | #11

   What kind of straps do you use, and how long are they?

   Posted a picture of the Orchard and the logs. This is English Walnut, grafted on Black Walnut. Trees were 17 years old. Will be an interesting experience, the wood is of light color though, looks like 100% sapwood. Don't know if the color changes when it ages and dries, or whether this project will end up as firewood?

   Willie

   
1. 
   fdampier5 | May 16, 2004 08:16pm | #12

   Hope you enjoy your firewood,  ;-(  It won't turn black or dark I missed where you said about grated  english walnut,  If you're looking for that black walnut look you can stain it and it will sorta look like walnut, if you squint on a dark night with the lights out... ;-)  real black walnut has all these wonderful colors,  purple, black,  browns, and reds etc.. that are what make it so special  (that and the way it works) 

1. 
   Jellyrug | May 16, 2004 10:44pm | #13

   Heh heh heh heh..... 

   Well, would anyone like a few cords of free firewood?  Bonus: the ends are sealed with latex paint too!!

   Willie

2. 
   joinerswork | May 16, 2004 10:46pm | #14

   The little bit of English walnut I've worked was lighter than black walnut, but darker than butternut (so called white walnut).  The stuff I worked was very pretty, and had a nice ribbon stripe to the edge grain.  I'd try to get as much of the area around the graft as possible, that should be really nice. It's a pity the trees are so small...

   Good luck,

   Ray

5. 
   knarf | May 14, 2004 10:58pm | #10

   I brought some black walnut planks with me from Canada 6 years ago.  They have been stickered since. Started using bits last year. Wonderful wood. Stable, easy to work and finishes beautifully with teak oil. By all means take it.