walnut question

[alex_w]

Hi,

 

Taken down a walnut today which was leaning on a wall. Have not cut the trunk off yet so not sure how much heartwood there will be. Have read that the stump is good for gun stocks but how much trunk, or how high above ground do you cut it?

thanks

 

Alex

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

its all about the twisted grain in the root crown, no more than 3ft needed above root i would guess, and a pure guess, not much sapwood in older walnuts,mostly heart

[slackbladder]

depends what you are intending to do ,very little of the root is good enough for gun stocks.If the trunk is good you need to keep as long a length as possible for planking

Think there is more to be made from the main trunk rather than the root ball

[wills-mill]

For the best twiddly grain for gunstocks you're best digging the root out

 

I suppose as stocks aren't very long you could get away with doing a high felling cut about 18ins to 2ft up from ground level, and then digging and tweaking the rootball out. You've then got the sweep of the major roots running up into the stem to give the curve through the pistol grip....

 

FIGURED GRADES OF GUNSTOCKS

 

How're things with you guys? Hope you're all well and busy, WW

[alex_w]

Thanks Will,

 

Yes all good thank you. Have a small woodmiser of our own and plenty of stock. You inspired me to get into quarter sawing london plane with some great results.

[Copford sawmill sussex]

Very interesting thread, be good to see how it works out

 

 

Copfordsawmill.co.uk

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