Big Black Walnut Logs

[Rick Bailey]

As a fellow Creeker and my buddy calls me the "Walnut Hog Of the West".
Thanks Mr Brad Barnhart.:p
I guess he's right.
I was given three big black walnut logs.
The first pic is about 3' at the bottom and I guess 2' at the top and 2' tall of crotch.
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The 2nd is as tall and 18"
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the 3rd about 2' around.
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My concern is how to cut the big crotch piece.
I got a 24'' husky that will do the job.
Just need a little help with layout.
Thanks.

[Roger Chandler]

Rick....how you cut that crotch piece depends on what you want to make with it. A lot of the feather grain will be nearer the bark than the center, so if you want the feather grain to show in the bottom of a bowl, then make the bark side of the log into the bottom of the bowl and the pith area the rim. This would be just cutting the log in half like most bowl blanks.

Platters will loose some of the feather because getting enough wood on the bark side will have to take into account the curve of the log, and you need a piece that will allow the platter size you want.

An interesting thing I saw from an arborist that used to be a member of our club, is that if you want a hollow form with the feather in it, then cut your blank with the crotch dead center in the blank from the middle of the log..........it really makes for some striking figure in a hollow form.

[Rick Bailey]

Roger,
Should I split the pith? or on both sides of it?

[robert baccus]

Rick, most of the figure in a crotch is shaped like the seed in a mango. Just like your hands in prayer just below the crotch when facing it. You can end up with a stripe or a thinnish slab depending on your cut. Your choice. On large walnuts really nice figure will continue down the trunk 2-6' below the crotch.

[Brad Barnhart]

Just send'em to Kansas, Rick, & I'll return the leftovers to ya!:D:p

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Here are a couple of pictures that show where the feather in the crotch is, 340027 340028

and what happens when you turn a deeper bowl from it, you cut almost all of he feather away
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You can cut just a slab from the center and use that to make a platter and capture all the feather,
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or turn a shallow bowl and still have some of the feather.
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Or make a live edge bowl and have the feather in the bottom of the bowl, if sawn like the previous logs, HTH.
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[Brian Tymchak]

Wow! Leo, that walnut platter is spectacular! Beautiful work!

[Bob Bergstrom]

Leo's pictures say it all. Cut right down the two Limb's ptths and use the pith side as the bottom. To cut it, lay the log with one bark side branch on the ground and the other above it vertically. Drive a stake into the ground with the stick in line with the piths. Use the stick to guide the cut while alaigning the back of the saw with the pith in the truck section. Remember the bowl will be only as thick as the smaller limb. I try to find crotches where the limbs are equal size. Easier to balance the feather directly in the middle of the bowl also.

[Rick Bailey]

Just send'em to Kansas, Rick, & I'll return the leftovers to ya!:D:p

See what I mean? :rolleyes: Good friends are hard to fine. :cool: Thanks guys that helps a lot. I'll check back in when I get a better look at them.

[Rick Bailey]

Ok,
Got a chance to look the walnut over.

First I found my saws. 340848

Is this ring shake? 340849340850
And some shots of the other logs.
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How to proceed?
Thanks for the help.

[Rick Bailey]

I for got to ask,
I have the standard chains on my saws, should I get a ripping chain or will they work ok?
Thanks again.

[Thomas Heck]

Regular chains work fine for me.

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

I for got to ask,
I have the standard chains on my saws, should I get a ripping chain or will they work ok?
Thanks again.


for ripping I use a regular chain and cut the log with the grain.

[Jeramie Johnson]

for ripping I use a regular chain and cut the log with the grain.

Same, and if you hold the saw on an angle when ripping (tip lower than back), you will have beautiful curls, just like sharp tool turning.

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

Oh yeah - the curls fly when you get just the right angle!

[Rick Bailey]

Well I guess I'm good to go then.
Thanks guys.

But did any one look at the pic of the log that maybe ring shake?
I'm not sure what it is or how to identify it. I know it's not good from what I've read.
Thanks for the help.

[Brice Rogers]

Rick,

When cutting logs, cut out the pith -- it will be the point where the cracks start from. Also, don't forget to do something to the endgrain - - either wax it, anchor seal it or put plastic wrap (with tape or rubber bands to hold it) on the ends. Most of the moisture leaves from the end grain - - so it will shrink faster than the rest of the log - - AND CRACK.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Rick it is probably ring shake, but whatever you would call it, you have to cut that out, as you should not try to turn that.

Here’s some info on defects in wood logs and what they call it.

http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/information_bulletins/pdfs/OCR/ne_ah678d.pdf