Walnut smells like manure?

[Cutter Lee]

I started milling some black walnut logs today and the they smell just like cow manure. They are very green, the tree just fell in a storm a couple months ago. Tree seemed healthy and I don't see any signs of rot. The bark is kinda slimy where it attaches to the log, though. 

My first experience with black walnut. Is this normal? Does the smell go away once dried? The boards were destined to become a gun cabinet, but I can't have this rank in the house. 

Any experience appreciated. 

[doc henderson]

I would saw and dry it.  the smell is most intense when water is actively evaporating as the wood dries.  It may have a bacterial infection, but it can have some smell that is off putting like elm and oak.  Mill it and dry it.  should be ok when finished.

[YellowHammer]

Yes, get the wrong walnut logs and they smell like a cow just came up and plopped a load right on your leg. 

The slimy bark coming off is called "slip" and it's normal in early summer, late spring walnut when the sap is flowing.  Later in the fall and winter, when the sap draws up, the bark won't come off with a jackhammer.

I always attributed the "Stank" to a bacterial infection, or damage of some kind, and the good news is, much of the time, the stinky walnut traps wet spots and is harder to dry evenly.  Ok, maybe that's not good news.

Anyway, walnut is walnut and the smell goes away the drier it gets, and for me, the stink smells like money. 

[SwampDonkey]

Yes, most likely bacteria in it. I have sawn up fresh butternut, a softer walnut, and it smelled very distinctly butternut. I assume from the oils in the cambium. Hardwood firewood that sits awhile in our climate smells just like manure, especially, beech, hard maple and yellow birch. You can smell it off a fresh dumped load of bucked firewood in your yard. Bacteria at work. 

[Ianab]

If the log is still solid, the smell should go away as the wood dries. It's probably some random  fungus / bacteria getting into the outer cambium layer, which is rich in sugar. Get the wood dry and those microorganisms die off. As long as they haven't done too much damage, you will be fine. 

[Cutter Lee]

Thank you everyone. I feel much better about it now. And thank you for explaining about the slip bark. I had no idea and this information is so useful. 

The trees on our property are primarily oak and poplar. Only a handful of walnut and I hated the idea of not being able to use this tree. It's a smallish log with not a lot of dark heartwood, so it's very marbled ( probably a bad way to describe it). It'll make a beautiful cabinet with the color variation, so long as it doesn't stink to high heaven! 

Thank you you again for the help! 

[timbco68]

I always thought that fresh split ash smelled like urine.

[Ron Scott]

Some woods have an identifying odor, especially when fresh cut.

[Southside]

I love the smell of manure in the morning.... it means the cows showed up to the miking barn and didn't all run off during the night.  

[Freedy201]

I started milling some black walnut logs today and the they smell just like cow manure. They are very green, the tree just fell in a storm a couple months ago. Tree seemed healthy and I don't see any signs of rot. The bark is kinda slimy where it attaches to the log, though.

My first experience with black walnut. Is this normal? Does the smell go away once dried? The boards were destined to become a gun cabinet, but I can't have this rank in the house.

Any experience appreciated.

Hey!

Yeah, that smell is pretty common in freshly cut black walnut, especially when it's as green as yours. The slimy bark is probably contributing to the funk too.

The good news is that the smell should dissipate significantly once the wood is dried properly. Black walnut is known for its high moisture content, so it's not surprising it's giving off a strong odor.

To minimize the smell, make sure to dry the wood slowly and carefully. You might want to consider air-drying it for a bit before putting it in a kiln or using a dehumidifier. Keep an eye on the moisture levels and make sure it gets down to around 6-8% before using it for your project.

Once it's dry, the smell should be much more manageable. You might still get a hint of walnut's characteristic earthy aroma, but it shouldn't be overpowering.

For your gun cabinet project, you might want to consider using a wood conditioner or sealant to further reduce any lingering odors.

Hope that helps!

[Ron Scott]

Yes, the wood's smell is associated with its moisture content, and it should neutralize as the wood dries. As stated, once dried a wood conditioner or sealant may be helpful.