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A friend brought over two well aged and dried walnut slabs. 48 inches long, one is 5-6" thick, the other is 6-9" thick. They are both over 24" wide. There is a back story. The grandfather of my friend planted this tree many years ago. This was all he could salvage from an unexpected downing of the tree. They weigh 150 pounds or more. My friend is a guitar player and wants some for some guitars. The rest, he wants cut into 4/4 slabs. I have a 3hp, 18" bandsaw with a 1" resaw king blade. Was thinking about making a simple (guided) sled using roller stands on either side.

What you think?

Mike

Not sure, but it looks like there's a whole lotta good sets there...

Need to get wax/paraffin on the ends now or it will check and mess up a lot of nice wood

First thing I would do is take Clinch's advice and do the ends. May not need it but it never hurts. Next split both billets at the heart. Get a couple of flat surfaces at 90 degrees to each other on each of the 4 blanks. Go from there. My out line is that I have done very little of this, some maple and cherry. Where are Shane and John Arnold when you need them? Nice looking wood, have fun. If your friend is a guitar PLAYER how is he going to get his wood turned into guitars.................??
Tom

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how long ago did they fall ?

Yes you can resaw them. you need to square up and face at least one side so the plank will ride true. You also need a resaw blade. You won't be able to cut this with a small blade as it will walk a good bit. You may only get a few usable sets as there will be a lot of rift and flat sawn here. I see some cracking starting and that depends how far it went in. Seal the ends asap. I prefer paint to wax but something to keep the moisture for releasing too fast. Good luck it may have some nice surprises in there for you.

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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

...and, while you're sealing the ends, take a hatchet or your weapon of choice and get the bark off of sides, too. You never know what's in there. Anything from gravel, nails, a stray bullet, things of that nature would damage your resaw blade. Organisms might be active, too. It needs to come off right away.

I would say there is enough for several flat sawn sets. Maybe even a top or two for electrics. And yes, I'd be building these. The rest is for one of their furniture projects. The slabs have been stored for several years in a garage. Not a lot of moisture left. They should have sealed long ago. But, I'll throw some on. I have a serious 1" re saw blade from Laguna. It actually measures 1 1/8" tip to back.

if they have been down that long sealing the ends is not needed.

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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

That thick, I would not necessarily count on them being dry inside. Black walnut can take incredibly long to air dry sometimes.
Figure on probably loosing 3-4 inches from the center.

These slabs are 4years old. They are dry.

I found a place that will probably do the heavy lifting. I'll do the final resaw work for the guitars.

Mike

Mike two people can handle these. Get the bark off. Saw down the center of the heart first. After that joint one surface flat then the heart edge. Resaw into 2" billets and trim off some of the sapwood, then you can cut into sets. I wouldn't count on the wood being dry on the inside but you will know once u cut into billets. I see qs to rift sawn sets.

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