Subject: How do I season black walnut?

From: [email-masked] (Donald T. Wenzel)
Date: 12 Feb 1997 21:12:27 GMT

I just had a Black Walnut tree removed, and found someone to rough saw
the main trunk into planks for me.

I know I need to set it aside to dry for awhile (about a year?) before
I can use it and I'd appreciate any tips people might have.

I have a garage and basement available for storage.  The house has both
a humidifier and dehumidifier so I have some rough control over humidity.

Thanks in advance.  I'm looking forward to drooling over several hundred
board feet of black walnut when it arrives in a week or two.

Don

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From: [email-masked] (John Paquay)
Date: 12 Feb 1997 23:45:55 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] says...
>board feet of black walnut when it arrives in a week or two.

About a year of seasoning is a good start.  It could take somewhat longer,
depending upon a number of factors, but almost certainly not less.

I often see conflicting advice, but most people air drying lumber seem to
feel that the best situation is to stack and sticker the boards in a sheltered
area outdoors... someplace where free air circulation is guaranteed, and yet
the pile won't become soaked by rain or overdried by the sun.  Air circulation
is necessary to prevent mold and mildew, and you want the boards to cure
slowly and gradually to help minimize warpage.  There seems to be a
concensus that any heated environment should be avoided.  A garage would
probably be preferable to a basement if those are the only choices.

I heard a recommendation, I think from Nakashima, many years ago, that the
best way to cure and store thick slabs was to stand them on end.  I couldn't
come up with a good rationalization for this, but I tried it with some slabs of
red elm and walnut, and for whatever reason, it did make a big difference.
Very little warping, and practically no checks, even at the ends of the slabs...

-- 
John Paquay
[email-masked],  [email-masked]
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~jep/
-----------------------
Without my wings you know I'd surely die...

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From: Bob Howell <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 22:44:35 -0500

> board feet of black walnut when it arrives in a week or two.

I air dried 600 bf from two walnut trees and am still using it. I only
wound up with 300 bf of usable wood  once the sap wood was removed
though. Sticker it in a flat pile out side for 4-5 months with some
cover from the rain, a shed is perfect. I bought corrigated plastic
roofing and put it on top of the pile, over the weights and all of this
in the shade. I bought several books from Highland Hdw and boned up on
seasoning wood. After 9-10  mos you can move it inside for the final
drying in a heated area. If you dry it too fast you will have case
harding and a ruined pile. Good luck.

Bob Howell

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From: [email-masked] (laurel)
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 1997 00:07:31 GMT

Here in the Northwest you need to season walnut for one year per inch
of thickness. Then finish in a drier.