3rd Attempt-Second Walnut Log

[Cannon51]

I got a chance this morning to go mill the 2nd of three walnut logs. It went smoother today, less head scratching time now. The 60 cc saws still struggle but I am trying to not bear down on them as hard. I squared up a 10x10 but could not load it, had to rip 4 inches off. I smoothed up a section with a block plane and applied some mineral spirits so I could see the grain but it's not as dark as I thought it would be.
Cannon

 

[mtngun]

It's all I can do to wrestle an 8x8 fir, I can't imagine picking up a 10x10 walnut.

Your walnut looks good to me. Thanks for the pic.

 

[discounthunter]

looks good. nice mantle pieces. walnut tends to darken with age. you can also enhance it with some b.l.o.(boiled linseed oil) and then a urethane finish.

 

[buzz sawyer]

Nice looking beams. Does the one on the right have the pith clear to the other end? If so, you might want to saw it out. If left alone it will likely develop a big crack on the top as it dries.

 

[TraditionalTool]

I don't know, I think the wood looks beautiful!

Walnut is some of my favorite wood to work, it's one of the most forgiving hardwoods, and just great to work. It is in my top 3 woods to work.

That beam looks gorgeous on the section you wiped with mineral spirits!

 

[Homelite]

I have milled about 500 bf of walnut with my 60cc saw and haven't had any problem. It is a lot of trial and error, but I find that walnut has been one of the easiest woods to mill aside from cherry and soft maple. I keep the chains sharp and the rpm's high, but had great success.
The walnut will definitely darken over time. The last set I pulled off of the air drying stack were a really light brown. One pass on the jointer and it was nice and dark. Nice logs!

 

[headleyj]

My old man had some walnut milled when they cleared land for their home back in the mid 80's. It was sitting in his basement until 2 years ago when he brought it to me when I was building a house. We used a piece to cap a halfwall b/t the living rm and kitchen...it's ~2" x 8" x 7' long. It's got a streak of sapwood on one corner - it looks gorgeous. The sapwood contrasting with the deep walnut color really pops.....Some people don't like sapwood, I love the look of it, but it goes with our "theme" the wife says

 

[smokinj]

I would be happy with that!