I lucked into 10,000# of California black walnut last week. I have a Lucas swing arm mill, two solar kilns, each currently drying ~2,000bf of redwood, and plenty of Doug Fir, redwood, and white oak in the mill-and-dry queue ahead of this new find. I have specific cut lists I'm targeting for the Doug Fir (timberframe) and redwood, less so for the white oak, and now black walnut. I also have a 60" slabbing attachment for the mill, and we've had fun this fall slabbing some 3" redwood and 3" white oak slabs. Slabs are stickered and banded, air drying under tarp cover with ends open. With only ~4,000bf of total kiln capacity, and about 50,000bf currently in log form across the four species, I'm torn what to do near term with the black walnut. Paint ends and leave as logs for a while? Slab some, mill some into 4/4 and 8/4 and air dry until kiln space opens up? I don't have plans to make furniture anytime soon, but like what I see in limited research since the black walnut landed in my lap. The wood was free, though I tipped the team that felled it, kept it long lengths for me, and helped load it in my trailer. Total cost to date is ~20 cents/bf. Same guys have some red oak (90' tall, straight) and a 48" DBH tall redwood coming down this winter. Similar deal: tips the guys doing the heavy lifting and wood costs very little if anything. Problem is growing inventory. I have several acres for log laydown, slab air dry stacks, etc, but really need to finish milling and baking and get on to rebuilding my shop (440sf) lost in the CZU fire a year ago, and a new cottage (1,200sf) with the Doug Fir and redwood. I have a skid steer for log manipulation, material handling, kiln load/unload, etc., but am trying to be efficient about site planning and material movement overall. Open to any advice, particularly on the CA black walnut, which I have no prior experience with.
CA black walnut 29dec21.jpg
Reply With Quote