Walnut lumber

[Screwdriver]

This was as close as I could get.

The area is twice this size with two larger trees cut down on the left.

 

[Screwdriver]

It occurs to me we would somehow have to manhandle 1/4, 1/2 ton (??) of tree into the back of a van/trailer. No idea if that is even possible from where it is, behind a house down an alley etc. Annoyingly I just made him a trailer axle but there is no trailer yet! I have one but seriously doubt lt it would take the weight.

No wonder he said "come and take it"!

Regards rifle stock etc, what is the minimum length of interest? I can have whatever size I can carry for sure, anything else is uncertain. It **might** be possible to mill it on site though I'd probably want to pay him for that and I'm still not sure he'd be that interested.

 

[mtt.tr]

Being walnut it will full of defects


Also the heart wood very little compared to the overall width

 

[James1979]

Being walnut it will full of defects

That’s why they make resin tables out of it

 

[hotponyshoes]

I think the stiff for gunstocks comes from the buried bit so if you want to make millions you'll have to get digging!
I don't think the british climate produces the best stock wood either though. All the really expensive stuff tends to be french or Italian.

The bits for resin tables sell (or are at least advertised) for strong prices so they might be a good return for minimum effort.
If you have to take it as one lump then just engine crane one end of it up, roll the one axel you do have underneath and ratchet strap it on.
A shopping trolley will do for the steering end and lidl sell those for a quid..

 

[mtt.tr]

That’s why they make resin tables out of it

And because they are not cabinet makers

 

[Screwdriver]

What sort of defects are we talking about? Is that typical for British Walnut?

 

[mtt.tr]

What sort of defects are we talking about? Is that typical for British Walnut?

Normally will be split, excessive sap wood (the whiter parts), rot, twisted grain.

It's a cracking wood to work with though

 

[Screwdriver]

Tree surgeon says he will try to help deliver. I need to know (urgently) what minimum length of lumber might be useable for a gun stock.

I'm thinking if I can't physically move the whole tree, I should be able to get some chunky slices. Also, re: sapwood, should I consider chopping that off in situ to save weight or is it needed in place for seasoning?

 

[DAPPH]

It's well worth keeping. English walnut is worth good money, even just as rough sawn planks.

However, unless there's a chainsaw mill, it's not going to be planked.

If you can move the thing whole then do that.

Rounds will not be as valuable. Sure turners will have them but if you plank it, every YouTube watching resin table builder will be keen.

I mean I'd be keen. But you're miles away.

Rounds need to be cut from sealed end well seasoned wood . if you think a six inch thick round will turn nicely you need to realise that the cut ends will have cracks several inches in from the original cuts . Even sealed seasoned cut rounds tend to be re dipped in sealing waxes to stop moisture getting in along the tubular grain cells.
Most of the wood I've got seasoning is at least four feet long , sealed at both ends and stood on the thickest end undercover to help the drainage & drying out .
Season one year for every inch of diameter of wood is a good rule of thumb for naturally air dried wood .

It's very very satisfying to make a stock from a four foot blank that been 20 or more years in seasoning . I made my stock in pine first so I could understand what was involved and not mess up the £65 blank of walnut .

 

[Screwdriver]

Yeah I have a fair bit of plum cherry out the back, ends dipped in wax etc. It had become infected with something I think because the inside looks for all the world like a starburst of deep red. As if someone dropped a tin of paint. Haven't sliced one open yet but its been a few years now and I think it might be time...

If I can get my hands on some large rounds, I'll probably use a sort of sealing paint because a big round is going to need a lot of wax! If all goes well, I might actually end up with some chainsaw milled planks. Then I just need to decide where to keep them.

 

[Screwdriver]

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, / Gang aft agley,

I go there at 10am plus change only to see a handful of workmen on site. I should not be there. Big South African chap pointing at the ground (builder) walks outside so I start to leave too. He is meeting with an immaculately dressed young man, who hopped out of his brand spanking new battery powered Porsche, clearly the owner, fresh from a session at his gym club in Dubai.

I get home to discover...

Obviously we had crossed paths. This might be all I get. It's not worth him "wasting" time organising the removal of a tree in one piece. Place is looking busy. Perhaps this explains why exotic woods like this end up on bonfires.

Under my boot above is the only sample I nabbed of what I assume might be Yew?? The rest are Walnut.

..and the bark is beautiful with an amazing biome.

Shame not to somehow preserve it but needs must and I will seal up the ends pronto. he first few hours are the worst (I think)

If that's all there is, forget about rifle stock, maybe get a few knife scales if I'm lucky.

 

[julianf]

See the little black dots in the centers of the sections... that was the bit you wanted.

about 4 foot diameter at the ground.

This section would have had more heart.

I think that the rifle stock bit is actually where it meets the ground. I dont know if, technically, its above or below ground, but, basically, its the interface part.

 

[Screwdriver]

Well it didn't gang aft agly this time...

Three sizeable chunks.

..and a promise to "reserve" the root once the digger gets it out.

I'm assuming the really good bit is the dark heart and there won't be too much of that in these sections I guess.

So if there's any folk on here with the knowledge, I'd like to know what the best plan of action is for these before I attempt to build/use a chainsaw mill and hack them into firewood!

 

[mike os]

the only bit of interest is the dark bit in the middle.... really not worth the effort.

walnut is typically a 200% wastage/splits/defects in the dried product ... so more like 250% from round

 

[DAPPH]

Yeah I have a fair bit of plum cherry out the back, ends dipped in wax etc. It had become infected with something I think because the inside looks for all the world like a starburst of deep red. As if someone dropped a tin of paint. Haven't sliced one open yet but its been a few years now and I think it might be time...

If I can get my hands on some large rounds, I'll probably use a sort of sealing paint because a big round is going to need a lot of wax! If all goes well, I might actually end up with some chainsaw milled planks. Then I just need to decide where to keep them.

I used a small pan of red candle wax , melted it on an electric pad ( no flames ) then 2 inch paint brushed it on the newly drying cut ends and in places where branches etc had been cut off , two coats on each ends seems to have it sorted .

Those radial cracks ( aka heartaches ) you've noticed can go a long way into the log/branch as it's dried out at the cut end .

 

[8ob]

A few of those cracks are from the felling or chogging down, it doesn't take much for hardwood to shatter if it hits the floor.

Bob

 

[Screwdriver]

the only bit of interest is the dark bit in the middle.... really not worth the effort.

walnut is typically a 200% wastage/splits/defects in the dried product ... so more like 250% from round

Kinda curious how I can waste 200% of it

 

[julianf]

Kinda curious how I can waste 200% of it

200% of the final part.

So 1/3 is used and 2/3 are waste.

I 100% know what you are saying...
; )
But it's just the way the percentage was used in the process description.

 

[Screwdriver]

Personally, I think I'd be lucky to get 50% useable timber.

Anyhoo, while a chainsaw milling guide might be handy and I certainly have enough ladders here, if I can't borrow one off matey I'd probably chop this up freehand.

While I await the result of the root request, I am wondering if there some way I might be able to hold this monster log up high enough to roll my bandsaw alongside it. I mean, it is on wheels.

Somebody stop me.