Air vs. kiln dried walnut

Re: Air vs. kiln dried walnut

Christopher Schwarz

>Scott,

Even more dramatic is when they steam walnut (and cherry and redwood) to migrate the pigment into the sapwood. Was your kiln-dried stuff steamed? It's a pretty dramatic photo.

Chris

Re: Air vs. kiln dried walnut

David Barnett

>You're so right. The purples, russets, inky blacks, and the whole range of deep browns is largely absent in most KD. And air-dried walnut grown in iron-rich soil (West Coast) is probably the best for that, although I'm usually satisfied with East Coast grown timber. The difference between KD and AD becomes even more apparent when the wood ages, mellowing into soft nut browns with pastel washes of peach and violet, which is why I make sure my finished pieces get plenty of sunny exposure. As you say, though, the KD is pretty, too, but the bronzy tones usually predominate and it ages less gracefully. Worst is KD steamed walnut, though, which usually ends up a borishly uniform greyish muddy cocoa.

Re: Air vs. kiln dried walnut

Scott Post

>No, this stuff wasn't steamed. You're right that the difference would be even more dramatic if it had been. I forgot to mention that those two boards came out of the same tree. I know because I bought it from a guy with a Woodmizer and saw the log before he sawed it. He has a small kiln that fits maybe 500 bf, so he'll usually air dry some stuff for nearer term use and put the rest in the back of the barn to air dry.

Oops

Scott Post

>he'll usually air dry some stuff for nearer term use and put the rest in the back of the barn to air dry.

Oops, I meant of course "he'll usually kiln dry some stuff for nearer term use and put the rest in the back of the barn to air dry.

Re: Air vs. kiln dried walnut

Bob Smalser, Seabeck, WA

>While I agree totally, Scott...the test ain't fair unless those boards came from the same tree, as soil conditions influence color dramatically.

does this color last?

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>From time to time a picture of air dried walnut appears with the statement of how superior it looks to kiln dried or steamed. It seems the purple that sometimes appears in freshly surfaced air-dried boards is appealing to some.

I find these colors fleeting once the lumber surface is exposed to sunlight and air. Furthermore, I find that walnut bleaches to a light blond color over time unless it is stained.

Personally I like the more uniform color of steamed walnut. As far as stability, it all depends on how fast it dries. One can stress a pile air drying in the summer as well as removing moisture too fast in the kiln.

As Bob mentions, the color, and texture, of walnut varies greatly depending on growing conditions. The richer deep brown colors are more likely found in slower growing "deep woods" trees.

Re: does this color last?

Scott Post

>I just went and looked at a few walnut pieces of various ages and sunlight exposures. I don't have anything that gets a tremendous amount of sun. I have one piece in particular that I remember mixing air & KD wood because I bought a load of 12/4 air dried walnut from a guy who was clearing out a barn loft. The purples weren't as apparent as the fresh cut piece in the picture above, but the air dried stuff retained what I would characterize as an orange hue. The KD panels are a more uniform brown. Both look really nice and blend well together (I had to get within a few feet to really see the difference). I prefer air dried stuff although I can see how someone else would like the more chocolate color of the KD.

As far as drying stresses, I agree that setting fresh cut lumber in the July sun can be just as bad but the percentage of guys who do that versus kiln operators who dry too fast still favors air drying. I've found one kiln operator I trust and I buy from him with confidence. I've tried a half dozen other lumberyards within a 100 mile radius and have gotten warp prone wood from all of them so I try to stick with air dried wood. It's also a matter of being a cheapskate. I get most of my stuff from farmers with bandsaw mills who don't have kilns. I like paying $1/bf for my walnut.

Re: does this color last?

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>can't argue with the savings. Every time a board passes through a dealer on the way up the food chain 50% gets added to the price. by the time it gets to Woodcraft it has passed many hands.