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Walnut for the kitchen remodel

2K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  ShipWreck 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ran some of this walnut through the planer. I got 6/4, brushed it with a wire brush (brass) to get the general dirt and dust off. Took a lot of shallow passes for each board just to get them down to where the saw marks were gone. This is the walnut I've mentioned in other threads that was found in a barn loft during an estate sale and has been air dried over 20 years.

It starts like this (this one has been brushed off)
Wood Flooring Gas Door Wood stain


and ends up like these…
Wood Floor Wood stain Hardwood Gas


I wiped a little mineral spirits on them to see the color. I'll be using Waterlox on them and the color should be pretty close to this when they're done.

This one looks a little more reddish…
Wood Window Wood stain Table Flooring


There are variations in the color after I wipe it with mineral spirits. This isn't "drying blotchy". This is an even wipe of mineral spirits. I haven't done anything with walnut in over 30 years. Is this typical of walnut?
Brown Wood Floor Wood stain Flooring


I may go back and get some 4/4 just because it's pretty cheap at $3.50 a bd ft and I really like the look :)
 

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#2 ·
Walnut is often steamed nowadays to provide a more consistent color pattern. Yours is likely natural, which is going to result in the (wonderful, in my opinion) coloration you are seeing. Some prefer to work with only the natural, others prefer the steamed.

I have two huge live edge slabs here that are similar, they almost look like an oil-slick rainbow when wetted down.

If I were you, I would go back and load up on that Walnut until the floor or wife starts creaking. To be fair - I have a wood hoarding problem.

Nice catch Charlie,
 
#3 ·
Charlie, I, too, have some barn-stored walnut. It was not stacked and stickered, but 30+ year old walnut for free ain't sompin' I'm gonna pass. I've seen the look you've shown, but remember that the colors will change as the new wood is exposed to air. Walnut will lighten as it ages as well.
I use my stuff still showing sap wood. There's just a look of the wood as it comes from the tree that fits well with my projects.
Bill
 
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