an interesting read on walnut...

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Why is walnut lumber graded lower than other hardwoods? | Woodworking Network

 

I find that if one wishes real quality deep colored walnut it must be air dried. I really don't care for steamed walnut because of the drab cloudy appearance. I just don't like paying premium price what appears to be less than high quality lumber.

42 minutes ago, Marv Rall said:

I find that if one wishes real quality deep colored walnut it must be air dried. I really don't care for steamed walnut because of the drab cloudy appearance. I just don't like paying premium price what appears to be less than high quality lumber.

Amen to that! 

For years I thought the HUGE doors on the old (1880s) court house back in OH were metal. I think they are 8 ft high or more. They were painted black, or so I thought. I talked to a historian and he told me they were black Walnut. I wondered what those double doors are worth in today's market. I don't even know if you can get black walnut.

It has been years ago however I heard of some of these people offering $40,000 to $60,000 for a tree ...roots and all. And they would come in with trucks and haul it all.

 

In turning walnut it has almost a rainbow of color.

I hope the folks I get it from don't hear about those prices, they give me the trees to haul them away. My only cost in transportation to the mill and mill cost. I stack it all and air dry it. I get it cut for .20/BF or 200.00 a 1000 BF.

It's amazing what the tree services do not know, I always thought that if they did know what they were cutting up for firewood, they'd instead purchase a saw mill and make probably 50 times what they would make by turning it into firewood.

I know we need firewood! But man, I sure hate to see a 6' diameter 80' tall eucalyptus, burls and all head for the log-splitter. Slabbed out and burls separated, just a rough guesstament, but I could see that tree worth a coupe ten thousand if sold by the board foot rather the log.

I live in what I would call a walnut valley... Tons of it around. When I was around 8 years old I seen my dad sell two walnut trees for $1000.00 each. I have at least 30 walnut trees on my property. I don't need to cut them because people keep calling me to come and take there trees away for free. I got a load tight now in the kiln drying. The best and darkest walnut that I ever cut was on the ground for 10 years. Walnut just seems like it never rots. See pictures...

 

 

Beautiful walnut Kevin, very nice indeed.

Send some my way, I wish to quality control inspect it.  May take say 10-15 years.