The color of walnut and other woods

[Larry]

Just completed a little cantilevered end table. I had a young couple visit shortly after it was finished and the first question was how did I get so much color in the wood? Easy answer was, I don't wash out the color by steaming or a long processing time.

I've found for the best color I need to saw the logs promptly after felling the tree and get it dry. I push the kiln schedule as hard as I can. Walnut, cherry, blackjack oak, apple, and service berry reward my effort with vibrant colors. Steamed walnut and cherry are not even the same species as what I process.

[K-Guy]

For some woods that you want a white color to such as white pine you use a low temp schedule never going above 100°, so you don't caramelize the sugars in the wood. Yes I said sugars.

[jimF]

caramelization is an enzymatic reaction which is dependent on temperature, time and the presences of free water. As mentioned above low temperatures are needed to avoid the reaction from occurring, usually considered to be below 120F. Also you would try to rid the wood of moisture as fast as possible. Without water present early in the drying process while keeping the temperature low - low temperature and low humidity.
Species without prominent rays can take low humidity once the drying is started ( oaks, sycamore and beech are species to be careful with)

[busenitzcww]

Interesting. I've found that I prefer to let the walnut logs set a while before milling and it gives them a richer color. Definitely agreed on the steaming process.