Black Walnut timber frame?

[GearDrive]

Hello,

New to the forum, and have many questions.

I just paid off my 40 acres of land and would like to build a house. I have been looking at log and timber frame designs. On the land, there are a few Black Walnut trees that are straight and tall, enough to build a small timber frame house. One option I'm considering is to buy a sawmill and saw the trees. I have an Amish neighbor, that has timberframing experience, that can help me.

Would Walnut be good for a timber frame?  I have done alot of web searching and can't seem to find anything on a walnut frame. So I joined FF to ask the experts.

Thanks,

Neil

[Jim_Rogers]

Welcome to the Forestry forum.

I'll do a little research on that and get back to you.

Jim Rogers

[jueston]

I've never heard of a walnut timber frame, but if you figure out the strength of the wood, and design with that in mind, I don't see a reason you can't do it.

however if they are tall and straight, you might be better off milling them into lumber for flooring, trim, and cabinets.

or you might even be able to mill them and sell the lumber for enough money for pine timbers and some money left over...

but soon someone who knows much more about timber framing will be here with some wise advice on the topic.... 

after writing that I did a little research.

here is a picture of some trusses made from black walnut
http://jeffjohnsontimberframes.com/new/timber-frame-construction/timber-frame-trusses/

[beenthere]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

How large are the walnut trees (in diameter) ?

Sure you can build with walnut as far as the wood goes. Size and quality requirements as a timber and for the trees will need to match. And if you really want to cut down your walnut for this purpose would be a decision you would have to make.

But sounds like you have some interesting goals in mind and hope we get to sit in on your progress.
We like pics too...   

[grweldon]

Again, as the others have said, it CAN be done.  My first instinct when you mentioned the idea of timber framing with walnut was that of Jueston.  I would think that you could mill the trees into lumber and sell it for quite a bit more than what timbers in Southern Yellow Pine or White Pine would cost you.

It would seem a shame if you used black walnut not to plane them and finish them like the pictures of the trusses that Jueston pointed you too.  In my opinion, it's just too beautiful of a wood to leave rough sawn.

[GearDrive]

I thought about selling the walnut and buying a log kit, but I like to be different. Walnut is my favorite wood, I think its beautiful. Plus being able to build a house from trees that are on the property has some appeal to me. Yes, I would like to finish it like the trusses.

[bigshow]

maybe use it for kneebraces.  put some cool contrast in there.  that much monolithic walnut might be wasted in one mostly uniform colored frame.  Kneebraces or splines would set off a pine, dougfir, or SYP frame.

[mesquite buckeye]

If you leave the walnut exposed, with a fine finish, you would end up with a one of a kind house, for sure.  ;D  Any frames not exposed, I also would consider using something cheaper for those areas.

[piller]

In Jack Sobon's first timber frame book he says this about walnut:
"This is a beautiful, dark brown wood.  Of medium weight and shrinkage, and resistant to decay, it is probably our most sought-after native wood.  The cost, then, of this timber is prohibitive unless you own a stand of it.  A timber frame of walnut would indeed be unique."

[Jim_Rogers]

I have completed my research and yes, you can make a timber frame out of black walnut.

And it is extremely rot resistant, stable, strong, but of course very dark in color.

Jim Rogers

[thecfarm]

There you have it!!! I would do it. Maybe put some of your other wood in for contrast? If you buy a WM,enter it in one of thier contests.

[GearDrive]

Thanks guys,

I will move forward on the planning process.

[witterbound]

We used walnut for some of our braces.  Good looking stuff, but I'd think it would be hard to get the size of timbers you need.

[isawlogs]

We used walnut for some of our braces.  Good looking stuff, but I'd think it would be hard to get the size of timbers you need.

How can you say this with out knowing the size of trees he has or can get  ??? 

[witterbound]

I am no tree expert.  It just seems to me that in my neck of the woods we just don't see tall straight walnut trees like pines or even oaks -- which are more often used for frames around here. 

[beenthere]

It just seems to me that in my neck of the woods

Where is "my neck of the woods" ??

Nothing in your bio. Nice if you would update it.  8)

[witterbound]

Arkansas ... The Ozarks

[Troy Schon]

I've seen a 30x40 barn frame all out of walmut. mostly 6x6 up to 16'. It's now a tasting room for whiskey run creek winery in Brownville, NE

[mesquite buckeye]

Very cool. ;D 8) 8) 8)

[VictorH]

I did not realize that Troy - I'll have to pop over to Brownville and check that out.
Victor

[D L Bahler]

If you leave some sapwood intact, you could have a spectacular frame. The sapwood is and will remain a creamy white, but is susceptible to insect attacks. The contrast of dark and light in the timbers could be used to create a wonderful effect.

I imagine your walnuts are similar as our in Central Indiana, they can get very tall and wide here. We see 2 footers, not that unusual.

Also the value of this frame, if done well, would be incredible. It is, in my opinion, a better way to invest your walnut than to mill and sell it into the current repressed market.

[GearDrive]

 

 

Just milled my first walnut timber!

[Texas Ranger]

Back in the '60's I had a college room mate that came from south central Missouri, they had an old barn on their place timber framed and floored in walnut, built in the 1800's.  They sold the wood from the barn, paid for his college, bought him a house, etc.  Sold the timbers to the Warsaw Gun Stock Company. 

[DPatton]

I did not realize that Troy - I'll have to pop over to Brownville and check that out.
Victor

Ditto Victor, I had no idea either. Might have to make a side trip to see this. 

[Weekend_Sawyer]

That timber looks great!!!
Thanks for bringing back your post, I'll be following with interest.

[Brad_bb]

That is a great looking piece.   You managed to have sapwood on all corners without having any wane.  I can't believe I never saw this post before.
   Yes you absolutely can use Walnut.  Most don't only because if you have to buy the timbers it would be cost prohibitive.  Many timberframes will use walnut for braces to contrast with lighter woods and the cost for just braces isn't too bad of an upgrade.  If you are are able to procure the logs at a price you can afford though, go for it.  
  I am doing the same thing now.  I'm preparing to build my timberframe home in the next couple years.  I'm using a lot of walnut timbers.  I've kept my eye out for deals on Walnut- like from the firewood guy I work with who procures logs from tree services - some urban, some rural.  I have a relationship with him and he'll save the better logs for me.  I also hooked up with a landowner a year and a half ago who bulldozed a walnut grove for more farmland but the first buyer never showed up for the wood (cause he waited too long and the veneer quality logs sat too long and the veneer buyer probably wouldn't buy them at that point).  So I was able to buy two semi loads of walnut logs and large branches for a good price because I took 4 days to buck, and prep the logs for transport and got them out of the land owners way and cleaned up 90 percent of the wood for him.  Don't discount large branches.  Cut those flat on two sides leaving a 6.5 or 4.5 live edge piece.  Let it dry in your pole barn if you have one for 6 months or longer, then go back and remill it if it has moved at all.  This time lets them dry enough to stabilize a good deal.  Use those for braces.  You can scribe those in with 2 live edges, or mill the other two sides leaving you with 4 milled sides.  If you scribe, you can easily use pieces that are curved.
  Yes sir, you and I will have a lot of walnut in our homes.  It's a little tougher finding walnut logs long enough and of proper quality to be tie beams.  So I'll probably have white oak or Ash tie beams.  I have some straight walnut logs that are 24-26 feet.  But they'll probably be posts or rafters, or something other than tie beams.  They will finish out at 10x10.  Remember, you still have to visually grade the timbers like with any wood.  bigger diameter logs, even walnut, can have carpenter ant nests.  Don't be surprised if you open up a big diameter log and find that.  If you see evidence of Carpenter ants in the end of the log, consider making it table/counter top slabs.

[Brad_bb]

Here's a 21 foot 10.5x12.  I'll let it sit for a few months before running the beam planer over it.
Keep posting your pics GearDrive!  It looks like I have a filter on my phone camera.  That is just the superfine dust from milling that has gotten in my lifeproof case.  Water can't get it, but that super fine dust can somehow. I just changed to a new case tonight so hopefully my pics will be clearer.

[GearDrive]

Update, It's been awhile.

I decided to do the garage first for practice. Using Ash trees killed by EAB. 

 

 

 

 

 

[GearDrive]

Started milling some walnut. I found out that if I cut them down in the winter, and let them sit for 2 1/2 years, the sapwood darkens up. If it's dark under the bark, it's good. Applied tung oil to a 12" x 12" x 10'

[Don P]

Was it @FactorySeconds talking about aging walnut recently?

[Ljohnsaw]

 :P
Wow!