School me on cutting black walnut

[Woodsrover]

Black walnut sawdust is toxic to plants so keep it out of the garden.

Guess that would explain the dead grass around where I've been sanding this table over the past few days!   :D

[SawyerBrown]

Beautiful tables, guys.  Now THAT'S why I'm in the sawmill business. Woodsrover, that table will be an awesome heirloom for those kids!

[logboy]

Learner, I'm not sure what you're milling the crotch with, but when I slab crotches (and I do a ton) I set them up so all three piths are parallel. In other words, they are all equal distance from the ground. Yes it takes some screwing around, especially since one limb is almost always bigger than the other and needs to be shimmed up. But once you get it you just figure out your thickness (I usually go 3) and whether or not you want to cut through the pith and start milling. I've got a nasty subpar walnut on the mill right now that took 30 minutes to set up. It has a 12" hump in the middle on both sides, exactly 90 degrees from the crotch. What a pain.

[Biocmp]

Learner, I'm not sure what you're milling the crotch with, but when I slab crotches (and I do a ton) I set them up so all three piths are parallel. In other words, they are all equal distance from the ground. Yes it takes some screwing around, especially since one limb is almost always bigger than the other and needs to be shimmed up. But once you get it you just figure out your thickness (I usually go 3) and whether or not you want to cut through the pith and start milling. I've got a nasty subpar walnut on the mill right now that took 30 minutes to set up. It has a 12" hump in the middle on both sides, exactly 90 degrees from the crotch. What a pain.

Would love to see some pics of the wood if you get a chance!

[logboy]

Heres the one I set up tonight. I kept worrying the oblong thing was going to roll off the forks and through the mill.




Heres one over 20' long I did for a customer a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately it had an entire tree house in it complete with a spiral staircase. My bar is messed up because of it. Hitting 12 nails in one pass apparently isnt good for a slabbing bar.

[Gideon_70]

Anyway, here are a couple of photos:

Those are amazing!  Absolutely beautiful. 

[mikeb1079]

logboy those are sweet.  from what distances do you have customers bringing in logs like that?

[mesquite buckeye]

Heres the one I set up tonight. I kept worrying the oblong thing was going to roll off the forks and through the mill.




Heres one over 20' long I did for a customer a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately it had an entire tree house in it complete with a spiral staircase. My bar is messed up because of it. Hitting 12 nails in one pass apparently isnt good for a slabbing bar.

When you get a hump like that you can make really nice full live around oval slabs, usually with elliptical, target grain pattern.  Nice for road signs, little tables and so on.

People like 'em. ;D

[drobertson]

Nice work woodsrover!  looking great, sap wood is of no issue in my book in regards to walnut.
WIwoodworker, Unless there is a natural funnel of air flow threw that hall way, mold could be an issue, wax on the ends would be perfect.  Very nice stacking job! real nice in fact.

[Brad_bb]

What is "CWP"?

[Woodsrover]

What is "CWP"?

Clear Wood Preservative.  I use and oil-based product from Benjamin Moore.

I applied both Howards Wax and Feed and Emmet's Good Stuff overtop of it.  Wasn't happy as neither offered much protection from water, etc.  Even wiping with a damp cloth would leave a mark in the finish.  I moved it back outside yesterday and applied two coats of Minwax "Wipe-On" poly in clear satin.  Its a tiny bit more glossy than I had wished for but really not bad and water beads up on it and doesn't leave a stain.  For a kitchen table wax just isn't enough.

[WDH]

I agree with you that wax is not enough as a finish for a kitchen table. 

[woodweasel]

that's awesome