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walnut sapwood

1K views 8 replies 9 participants last post by  jhoeller 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I recently needed (unfortunatly in the way) to take down a walnut tree with ~14" diameter ~8' long. I was quite surprised how thick the white sap wood layer was ~5" leaving a measly 4" of nice dark stuff. Should I take it to the saw mill or add it to the firewood pile?
 
#3 ·
If you steam it, it will even out in color a bit, that is why 99% of walnut you can buy has been steamed. Which is also why 99% of the walnut you buy is no good for steam bending. It will still have a lighter color, but it will darken considerably. Just watch for bugs as they love the sapwood and can hide well and appear only after you have put finish on and taken it in the house.
 
#6 ·
If you stack it solid, green and put the sap wood between the heartwood it will stain very dark. Cut into a sample board every once in a while to check how deep you want the stain. This is how many mills sell Butternut for Walnut. Once it stains thru you can't tell them apart.
 
#8 ·
Have the logs flat sawn. Where the sapwood meets the heartwood there may some very interesting grain and color. I am making a box now of homegrown cherry which has the two in one board. I usually quarter saw most of my logs, but this one was so small, like yours, that I just had it flat sawn. In addition to the wild grain, it has the color change. I'm using it for a jewelry box for a friend's Christmas gift because of the shapes in colors.
 
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