I have a walnut log. What is the optimum walnut boards thickness? I was thinking about 1 inch. What do you think?
Depends upon what the lumber will be used for. Is it for your personal use or are you planning to dry/sell it?
If I'm planning on selling it I go 1 1/8". At 1" I may lose a board or two because of drying defects. That extra 1/8" makes a difference.
I cut 5/4 for the furniture/ cabinet makers around here. Depending on how the board dries--- Theres more than enough material to plane out any cupping, and keep your clients "happy".
I would saw it 1 1/8" thick for 4/4, 1 5/8" thick for 6/4, and 2 1/8" thick for 8/4. If you saw at 1 1/8", then after drying and planing, 90% of it will clean up to 15/16" thick. That is what most woodworkers want.
If you get a nice couple slabs to bookmatch into a table you may get a buyer to pay much more. Depends on your market but slabs on either side of the pith and some 8/4 for legs and rails when you cut on the sides of the pith work great for a table project.
I usually only flat saw here for making furniture and hope to one day learn the techniques to maximize quality wood without introducing to much waste.
Personally I always preferred to glue up 1" boards matching opposing grain patterns for legs etc. My theory was/is that they would be much more stable. Anyway, I never had any problems with the glued up legs.
1 1/8" is what I saw to.
The easiest to sell is 4/4 which I also cut at 1 1/8". That assumes a nice relatively straight log. Good luck with your log!
I feel it depends on the grade of the log, both before you open it and after the face cut.
Walnut logs have a long self life. I support the previous posts that the actual user will determine how you actually mill the log.