searching for 2/4 walnut.

Maybe you should try searching for black walnut. You might have to go with a veneer. Sometimes, places like Woodworkers Source has samples pieces that might work for you. You might even find a place that will plane it for you. Not sure if WoodCraft or WWSource does that, but you might call them and ask.

Try contacting The Wood Whisperer and see if he has any for sale, I kid of course. But he might have an idea, and I think he is still active on this site.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walunt-lumber-boards-1-2-surface-4-sides-clear-36-/310368669607?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item48436a0fa7

You should be prepared to stain walnut if you want
to make it dark. Sorry. It varies. I stain it dark brown
with roofing tar dissolved in mineral spirits. Works great.

Try contacting the folks at Bell Forest and see if they can fix you up. I did see a 5/8 board there, but I would guess not as dark as you want. (They have actual photos of there products.) I think danish dark walnut oil or min-wax dark walnut stain is what you may need to use in the end. By the way, American black walnut will darken with age, while the European walnuts may become paler with exposure. Walnut grows all over the U.S. so you can probably find it at a local small saw mill and get it surfaced to the thickness you want. The issue is that will not be as dark as you want. So you’ll have to stain/oil it. (Apparently the only parts of the U.S. it does not grow are: the southern tip of Florida, the southern tip of Texas, Costal California, and the northern portion of the central high plains.) You can also probably take a 4/4 board to the high school shop or a local commercial wood shop or and have it re-sawn and/or re-surfaced down to the thickness you want.

-- -- Cheers, Don K. (Michgan's Kewenaw peninsula)

I might have some that I can send you. Sometimes I end up with boards that are scant, i.e., thinner than the target thickness, and will not plane out to 3/4”. So, let me see if I have some that I could ship to you in a USPS flat rate box. What are your critical dimensions? What your length and width requirements?

-- Danny Located in Perry, GA. Forester. Wood-Mizer LT40HD35 Sawmill. Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln. hamsleyhardwood.com

As for making the walnut dark brown, I have had great success with this method.

Summary:
1. Use a darker dye (I used Transtint Dyes, Dark Walnut)
2. Seal the wood with a light coat of sanding sealer or shellac (I used Bullseye sealcoat)
3. Apply an oil-based stain on top of the sealer. Wipe it on, wipe it off. (I used General Finishes Spiced Walnut)

I was trying to get it particularly dark, so you may want to adjust the dye and stain colors if you’re wanting it a little lighter.

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson

I stain it dark brown
with roofing tar dissolved in mineral spirits,that’s great

The Woodcraft near me would resaw and plane it if they were asked. Depending on the amount baught there might or might not be a small charge. Ask them.

-- Bruce, Boise, ID

You can also search on ebay for “craft lumber”. It is typically sold in thicknesses of 1/8 to 1/2” and is not as expensive as woodcraft. Alternatively, you could resaw with a handsaw and some patience.

-- Brian T. - Exact science is not an exact science

I had good luck with the 4/4 wood I got from Rockler. It is always on the heavy side.

Let me know if you need a 20% off discount code.

-- Brad, Texas, https://www.youtube.com/user/tonkatoytruck/feed

Walnut gets quite a bit darker when finish is applied. Whatever you do, try it out first on some scrap before you do it on the final workpiece.

Alternatively, try going to a cabinet shop or something and ask them if they can plane it for you for some money.

-- The quality of one's woodworking is directly related to the amount of flannel worn.

I had some 1” planed and straight stock that I was able to resaw and after planning out the saw marks, worked out to just a little under 7/16”. This I used to make a tool box for my son for Christmas and when finished with rattle can lacquer, ended up looking great. The real question is whether it will stand the test of time as he has a tendency to be a bit rough on things at times.

Thanks for all the great tips, everyone! So much to respond to:

Bill: Veneer is out as the box will feature proud, slightly chamfered finger joints. I posted to the WW’s page (he’s who gave me the idea to build this) but no response so far.

CharlesA: that is a beautiful bench!

Bruce: I got a curt “No” when I asked at my Woodcraft. Some of the guys who work there are Grade A human beings, some of them are humps. Apparently the latter answered the phone.

Brian T.: great tip. Lots of wood, but nothing that fit exactly.

Brad: I would love that Rockler discount code, please.

Danny, that would be great! Here’s what I basically need (all size are final dimensions, so go a little bigger, please):

(2) 2.25×12.125 front/back
(2) 2.25×12.125 sides
top piece is 12×12, so either (3) 4×12 or (4) 3×12
(2) 2×12.125 to breadboard the top
and some 1/8” thick scrap for floating tenons.

I tried looking up how much those flat rate boxes, but I couldn’t nail down anything solid. Let me know if you find it. I think there’s a box they refer to as “board game” sized which is the only one I could see that would fit the board lengths.

I might have some that I can send you. Sometimes I end up with boards that are scant, i.e., thinner than the target thickness, and will not plane out to 3/4”. So, let me see if I have some that I could ship to you in a USPS flat rate box. What are your critical dimensions? What your length and width requirements?

- WDHLT15

I had some 1” planed and straight stock that I was able to resaw and after planning out the saw marks, worked out to just a little under 7/16”. This I used to make a tool box for my son for Christmas and when finished with rattle can lacquer, ended up looking great. The real question is whether it will stand the test of time as he has a tendency to be a bit rough on things at times.

- bigblockyeti

Board game box is 23 3/4” x 11 3/4” x 3”
It costs around $16.85 to any point in the lower 48.

-- Improvise.... Adapt...... Overcome!