Conditioning black walnut logs

[thepheniox]

Last weekend I cut a walnut log that I had laying around for over a year. Both ends of the log was dark right to the bark probably a foot or so in. Then the rest of the log was only dark in the heartwood. The sapwood was still very much white. How do I get the whole log to go dark? I have a feeling the answer will be time. Also will the boards I cut go dark over time? I still have a dozen logs waiting to be cut so just curious.

 

[lone wolf]

Last weekend I cut a walnut log that I had laying around for over a year. Both ends of the log was dark right to the bark probably a foot or so in. Then the rest of the log was only dark in the heartwood. The sapwood was still very much white. How do I get the whole log to go dark? I have a feeling the answer will be time. Also will the boards I cut go dark over time? I still have a dozen logs waiting to be cut so just curious.

Sapwood stays light just dry the log out of the weather slow.View attachment 216708I sent you a pic of some Red Cedar too

 

[qbilder]

I have heard big outfits steam the wood, but i'm not sure how it's done or ever seen the process. The only way I know of to turn sapwood dark is to either stain it or cut it off.

 

[classicfarmer]

darkening white part of walnut

Try covering logs or wood with pine boughs or burlap-keep it wet-worked for me

 

[Cody Colston]

Steaming the sawn lumber in a kiln will darken the sapwood, however it will also homogenize the color of the heartwood. If you like those green and gold tints in the Walnut, don't have it steamed.

Other than steaming, the only way to get rid of the lighter-colored sapwood is to remove it...which is what most woodworkers do.

 

[rarefish383]

I had a couple logs that I let sit for several years before I milled them and they turned dark all the through. The bark had long fallen off, and they were the same dark color from the heart to the edge, Joe.

 

[Dave Boyt]

The sapwood rots pretty quickly on black walnut, but the heartwood will be solid for years. My guess is that rather than the sapwood turning dark, it simply rots away. Cody is right. Steaming the wood will affect the quality of the heartwood. Best bet is to make the best of what you've got, and post photos.

 

[gomlin]

Most commercial walnut lumber is processed with heat to intentionally get more wood to sell. The sapwood does darken. The process makes the color patterns in the walnut even out. Experienced woodworkers look for air-dried walnut for this reason, its actually more desireable. I would rather cut off or dye the sapwood to retain the ranges of color. A water based or alcohol based dye can be used to good effect to blend the light sapwood for what its worth...its worked well for me in the past...

Sent from my HTC EVO via Tapatalk

 

[Marklambert61]

Steamed Walnut

If you steam Walnut to darken the sapwood you end up with purple looking Walnut....

Dont do it just cut the sapwood off, make good firewood....

Mark

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If you steam Walnut to darken the sapwood you end up with purple looking Walnut....

Dont do it just cut the sapwood off, make good firewood....

Mark

I don't cut and burn it, i incorporate it into my design!

SR