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Hey everyone,
My next door neighbor called us last night and asked my wife if we'd mind if she cut down this large walnut tree on the side of her house. This thing is big for a walnut tree, approximately 2 feet plus in diameter in the main trunk and straight for about 12-15 feet up. My first thought upon hearing this was, that's a lot of guitar wood possibly in that tree. I'm considering asking her if I can have or purchase the main trunk of the tree. What are your thoughts, those of you who know about turning a tree into tonewood? I live in SW Missouri, not quite sure what exact species of walnut it is, but it's big and straight wood.

Thanks!

This guitar has the same story. Neighbors walnut tree blew down - we salvaged a number of great pieces for tonewood. It turned out great! This was black walnut.

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John Ressler

If you can aquire this tree, you are a lucky man. I was given a large walnut log 2 years ago. If you get it, Seal all exposed endgrain with Anchorseal or a similar product. I get it from Woodcraft. Then get it out of the weather. If you leave it in log form it will take forever to dry. I have found a sawmill here in MI. that does custom resaw. Try to find a sawmill that can radial or quarter saw. If you want to process this into tonewood, it will have to be stickered and dried properly. There are lots of sites on how-to. Including this one. My log was split up for violin wood. It is special working with wood that you process yourself. I will check back on this post. If you have any questions, I am by no means an expert, but I will be glad to pass on any info that I have on the subject.

A 24" diameter walnut would probably make some pretty good boards. But by the time you take off an inch on each side for the bark, about 2" for the sap wood and about 2 1/5"-3" out of the center for the juvenile wood, you'll be surprised how fast those wide boards will narrow down.

Also if you take it to an experienced sawyer he may not want to saw it unless you agree to pay for bands(if using a band saw) bits, locks and blade(if a circle saw) damaged if they hit something in the tree such as nails, clothes lines, insulators, tire tools, and other various items that one can find in a yard tree.

It's no fun being nearby when a circular saw hits one of those old ceramic insulators and the bits and locks start flying out of the blade.

Good Luck with your tree.

D.L.

Thanks all, for your comments and insights...
I appreciate your expertise and the ideas.

I say go for it.I milled up some trees last fall and waiting for it to season.

Get it if you can. You want to get is sawed up as soon as possilbe. Then seal the ends. If you have a mill in your area see if they have kiln drying available. Get as much quareter sawn as possible. You need to get the sets resawn out of that. You want also to do neck wood you will want to have nice thick stock with verticle grain.
Good luck , I like Walnut , it makes for a great guitar
john hall
blues creek guitar

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Yep get what can. What part of SW MO. in. I am in Branson.

I'd say don't cut off the sap wood! It makes a beautiful contrast in walnut. I wouldn't recommend kiln drying it. Walnut color is much nicer if it's air dried. Regardless of how many backs and sides you get out of it, you should be able to get a lot of good neck blanks. Walnut is great for necks.

The back, sides, and neck on the guitar I'm holding in my avatar are all made of curly walnut from the same tree.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

walnut yard trees seem to attract nails from miles around, and people used to drive nails in them believing that it would make them produce more walnuts. (I used to own 3 sawmills)

If it is free of nails and over 24" in diameter, I would say snag it and hire a local sawyer to cut it up. You will be pleased with the walnut guitars it produces.

You can find a sawmill owner in your area at http://www.forestryforum.com/datasearch.html
For only one log, you can expect to have to haul the log to them for milling, so figure a way to haul it.

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Reguards,

Ken H