Yeah........we have billboards about those Walnut Bowls down in Tennessee.

The stuff (walnut) does stink, even dry. Walnut dust has a peculiar
stifling quality about it.......and a very bitter taste, A dust mask only
helps so much. I some problems with this particular piece wanting to tear
out on the inside of the bowl. I still think its nice wood, though. But, I
don't turn very much of it.........maybe there's a subconscious reason.

Barry

"Bill Rubenstein" wrote in message
. ..
Barry:

And maybe one last comment from me...

I don't much like turning walnut because of the smell -- especially when
green. It has to be a pretty special piece before I am willing to deal
with it.

Also, here in Missouri there is one of those businesses which churns out
thousands of bad walnut bowls and advertises on billboards along the
highway. They pretty much have spoiled the wood for me.

Bill

Barry N. Turner wrote:
That's true. I am aware of the steaming process. I've heard that the
steaming degrades the beauty of the wood somewhat though, in comparison
to
air-dried. Don't know if it's true or not.

Not many woods are as beautiful as Black Walnut if it is finished
properly.
I'm finishing up a small (7 1/2") Black Walnut bowl this weekend. It
takes
some effort to bring out that wonderful grain though.

Wish I had more of the stuff. I have some Black Walnut flat lumber that
has
been air-drying for about 30 years, but it's not thick enough for
turning
stock or bowl blanks.

Barry


"Bill Rubenstein" wrote in message
...

Barry:

To go a bit further into the issue...

Commercially, walnut is almost always steamed as a part of the kiln
drying operation. The steam causes the pigment to migrate into the
sapwood so that the sapwood can and is sold along with the heartwood.
If one is home-drying though, it is not practical to do this so you
either lose the sapwood or try to stain it.

Also, when commercial operations harvest walnut, they are looking for
clear butt logs -- no branches to kill yield.

Bill

Barry N. Turner wrote:

A small fortune? Maybe. The log will undoubtedly yield some decent

lumber

if sawed and seasoned properly. Or several bowl blanks, if you are a
turner. The smaller limbs are less useful. The larger limbs are

probably

usable, but a limb that is 2" in diameter has very little worth. The

very

center of the logs and limbs, the pith, should be avoided because of

it's

propensity to warp. You have to consider the lighter sapwood, too.

While

turners might incorporate sapwood into a bowl, furniture makers
probably
would cut it out as waste. So, you don't have a "small fortune", but

you

have scored some decent wood for turning or a few smaller projects.

Barry

"SHOOTER1" wrote in message
...


I just received a black walnut tree trunk that is 18"D x 12' L. I am
planning to have it cut into plank except for the areas that the limbs
branched from. Because of the grain patterns I "think" this would be

the

best way to go. I also received the rest of the tree (limbs &

branches),

however these were cut into varied lengths from about 12" to 18" and

have

diameters from about 2" to 10". I have been told that I have a small
fortune in wood here. I really am not concerned about that, I am more
worried about how to preserve it. The tree was downed about a week

prior

to


my getting it.
I am new to turning and would appreciate any suggestions.

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