Black Walnut Heartwood

Re: Not really

Dave Mount, NE Minnesota

>Depends a lot on how fast the tree was growing. If I had to throw a figure out, I'd say 1.5" (all around), but can be less in a slow growing tree. I don't have that much actual experience on the super fast growing side, but I'd imagine it could be more. Caveat: this is based on experience in Missouri, not sure if there's much regional variation.

Something in the back of my mind says it's about 10 years of growth, but I can't recall a specific source for that.

Best,

Dave

Re: Black Walnut Heartwood

Robin Corell in Atascadero CA

>I have 4 logs of freshly milled claro walnut(juglans hindsii) and they average 2 1/2" to 3" of sap wood, and the diameters are all close to 30". Some of the limbs have a bit more. these were all orchard trees in the central coast area of California. I have access to about 200 trees that have been removed and will be milling trough the summer

Robin Corell

Re: Black Walnut Heartwood

ThomD

>I don't know the real answer, but it looks like a reasonably stable amount of sapwood, say X years, regardless. SO when the tree is small it's a lot, and when the tree is really large , the sapwood proportion is small.

How much you end up with on a board will vary according the to the cut, among other things.

While I prefer air dried wood, kiln drying with steam does even out the colour for those who need that.

Re: Black Walnut Heartwood

Pat Mulligan

>I have a 3' diameter log section of bw with about 1" thick sapwood. Other logs I've gotten have had very thick sapwood. It varies considerably.from one tree to another.

depends on growth rate of tree

Bill Tindal, E.TN

>The sapwood is the living portion of the tree and I have seen it 3" thick in a vigorous growing tree, or as little as 1" in a slow growing tree. As far as the fraction of sapwood, it will also depend on the diameter of the tree as well.