OT [rant] Walnut makes good firewood

[AJMD429]

...that is, if you don't leave it sit a year, waiting to find someone who will mill it into useable sizes for making stuff.

We cut and split 30 feet of a 30" tree local mills wouldn't touch, and a bunch of 18" tall straight trees.

Funny how when you want to BUY walnut planks, they're very expensive, but when you contact a mill about processing raw logs, "it's just not worth it."

I saved a few short pieces I can at least lift and get into my truck; maybe I can cut out some gunstock-sized pieces by hand. Still seems a waste to heat the house with what could have made some beautiful furniture.

At least it is easy to split...

[/rant off]

Anyway, I now need to find out how to go from bark-covered logs to stocks and pistol grips, and do so without the help of a lumber mill. Anyone know of sources of further information on that?

[Hobie]

Seal the plank ends so that they dry evenly and don't tend to check. Stack them so that they aren't on the ground but supported evenly along their length with room for the air to move around them.

Lots of mills won't do "custom" milling. That's why there's so many of the little chainsaw mills out there.

[TedH]

Bring it to me, my father and I will work on it.

Seriously, you should be able to find a small outfit or some farmer with a small mill. When my Dad retired from the State he got into the lumber business. He cuts trees off the farm saws them up, dries, planes and sorts the lumber to sell. He's got a pretty good little business going, selling lumber to guys that tinker with making furniture and the like mostly.

[marlinman93]

If you want it to be any good for gun stocks you need to get it cut into stock sized blanks. I've tried everything to save sections of tree trunks, and they will split when they dry naturally, if left whole. A small chinsaw mill is fine to cut it up, as you really don't care if it's perfectly smooth. Check your phonebook for small mills that do custom cutting.

[Kansas Ed]

Yep, it's a shame that sawmills won't pay anything, but then again, you can't blame them cause they aren't being paid anything for their product. One of the local mills in MO told Dad that the pulp wood is basically his profit...the lumber just pays the expenses and overhead. Its the several middle men in between the millers and Lowes/name your store here...that make the bucks.

Ed

[HEAD0001]

The reason small mills will not buy or saw Walnut for you is simple. Most of the Walnut that is left grows mostly on old fence lines, and small farm lots that are around barns or houses. The majority of these trees has metal in it. Metal ruins expensive saw blades. So they will not touch it.

As far as stocks are concerned the better figure is in the stump and even the roots. So you need to dig that up to get the best stuff. I have sold stumps and roots for more than the saw logs. Tom.

[HEAD0001]

If you want it to be any good for gun stocks you need to get it cut into stock sized blanks. I've tried everything to save sections of tree trunks, and they will split when they dry naturally, if left whole. A small chinsaw mill is fine to cut it up, as you really don't care if it's perfectly smooth. Check your phonebook for small mills that do custom cutting.

I can tell you how to dry them properly. Buy a rubber coating-a coating like what they use in truck beds. After you cut your blanks you need to coat the entire blank. After you coat the blank just put the blank in your attic and forget about it for a few years. After that take the rubber coating off and mill your blank. It will dry perfectly.

I just took some solid Cherry and Oak fireplace mantles out of the attic that I put in there about 5 years ago. They are 14"X4"X8'. They dried almost perfectly. Just a slight cupping, but I can live with that. It will machine out very easy. Tom.

[JerryB]

These folks are right about sealing at least the ends of the logs. When I get a log for bow wood I seal both ends of the staves after I split them out.

[AJMD429]

Thanks for the encouragement and tips; someday I'm going to see if I can post ANY topic, no matter how far out or esoteric, that doesn't draw out several experts among forum members - such an eclectic bunch we are!

We never could connect with a portable-mill guy (we knew one who was doing it for his own timber he cut, but once he was done with his projects, he sold the mill). One told us about the fence/nail thing, and I told him he could come out and see the trees, and just do the parts from 15 ft. on up, but he still said no.

I do have one of those 'ripper' chain saw blade attachments, and a 10" table saw, but I haven't used the chainsaw attachment yet; I don't even know if I'll need a different blade for it to rip efficiently and cleanly. If I can get some 'chunks' halfway squared up and slowly dry them like you guys said, I'm guessing in a couple of years I can get them squared up on the table saw then?

[Andrew]

Yep, it's a shame that sawmills won't pay anything, but then again, you can't blame them cause they aren't being paid anything for their product.
Ed

I think he means to keep the wood, thus their product would be the service.

The reason small mills will not buy or saw Walnut for you is simple. Most of the Walnut that is left grows mostly on old fence lines, and small farm lots that are around barns or houses. The majority of these trees has metal in it. Metal ruins expensive saw blades. So they will not touch it.

Is that what it's like where you live? We have them alot in peoples yards, around town and along the edges of the woods. Plenty left too.

[Rusty]

You might ask around if you have a local Mennonite or Amish community in your area. They often have sawmills in their midst and they don't advertise. They also do very good work if you can find them.

[AJMD429]

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to seal the ends of the cut logs, and hopefully buy some time while I figure out how to get them cut up...

Is it better to strip off the bark as an anti-bug thing, or leave it on to slow down moisture loss and checking...?

[Aries]

I still cut and split my own firewood by hand with a axe and splitting axe. I have a couple fireplaces and I still like the look and sound and feel of natural wood burning fireplaces especially during the holidays.

[Terry Murbach]

ONE YEAR WE BURNED UP SIX FULL CORDS OF THE MOST GORGEOUS BURL WALNUT YOU EVER SAW. SPLITTING IT WITH A SOTZ MAUL WAS AN ESSOBEE, TAKE MY WORD FOR THAT.

[Chuck 100 yd]

My boss cut this one last summer. Cut it into 18 3" thick slabs and consigned them to GOBY Walnut. Portland OR. ( they have a web site)

6 slabs are already sold and the cheepest went for $1200.00

Just seal the end grain with a good sealer like enamel paint or hot wax. These were sealed with wax after being sawn green. They are
18 years old and have narry a split/crack in them other than a couple end checks. Cut your green wood extra long so you will end up with usable blanks if they do check some.