Peter,
I am glad you asked this because I noticed this too in the B Walnut I
collected last summer from a tree a friend gave me. I was seeing some
very strange variations from the wood and wondered if I had some kind
of variant specie.

I harvested over 50 blocks and it has been drying naturally in my barn.
Turning a few I got some wonderful shade differences between the
layers, and wondered why it didnt look like any BW I had seen before.

Thanks for asking this, the answers everyone gave were great.

cad
http://handturnedbowls.biz

big pete wrote:
Hi
I've woodworker for over 30 years and full time for the last 3. I've
have bought my share of commercial walnut over those years
I have been a wood turner for the past 2 years. It that time I have
purchased walnut from the local loggers and sawyers in the area (
Eastern Ontario Canada) My " Trees of Canada" by Farrar book puts
Walnut as growing mainly is southern Ontario 400km from where I am.
The walnut I get locally is beautiful. In a turning I get get shades of
brown, pink and even a green.
My logs have come from different woodlots and different sizes.
I have never seen such a range of colors in the commercial lumber.
My question; is the commercial process of kiln drying or even steaming
the cause. Could it be just a regional difference in soils, weather,
and seasons. I know the commercial lumber is brought up from the U.S.
And yes I am positive it is Black Walnut

Thanks in advance


Peter

www.peterbesharah.com