Value of Black Walnut Tree?

Hi gang,

I have an option on two huge black walnut trees on a farm in Griffith.

The main body was described as two stories tall, straight and a main trunk radius of 60cm.

They are easily 50 years old. They died as the old open irrigation network is now unused and dry. Different days now....they pay for every millilitre in a tightly controlled government monopoly.

Anyway, they are coming down in 2 months and I've been invited to take what I want (all, some, none) but I need to get it back to Canberra, so my questions are:

- is there a service for moving logs? A mega-courier as such?
- are the trees inherently WORTH anything?
- are there any bits that are "choice"?
- how much weight/logs can I fit into a trailer!

I ask, as I spent some time talking to arborists here in canberra about sourcing material for turning and all I found was cold rejection. One told me that even the cross of Jesus himself would go into the chipper...they grind everything without hesitation or mercy.

The tree is being cut by the farmer and his son, so I have some control over the process, but I'll need to be clear as I'm 5 hours away.

Nice Score just hope Rolls Royce doesn't here of this.

Ask this bloke.

Roger Vardy Rifles & Stockwood

Cheers

Don't get too excited,if they are dead standing,borers may have rendered them worthless..MM:2tsup:

You dont cut a walnut, you dig it and push/pull it out. The best figure will be in the fork and the butt. If the barrel is thin and straight as you describe, the main log will probably be as boring as bat s*#t. Why have they decided to cut it during the hottest month> Autumn is the time to mill this type of timber.

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Originally Posted by Evanism

The main body was described as two stories tall, straight and a main trunk radius of 60cm.

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~90% of trees described to me are always smaller than they are in real life.

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- is there a service for moving logs? A mega-courier as such?

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Not specifically for moving logs but if you have enough money I'm sure you can find someone to pick up and deliver.

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- are the trees inherently WORTH anything?

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Timber is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

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are there any bits that are "choice"?

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Darker Walnut with any flame/curl in it is prized by the gunstock community.

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- how much weight/logs can I fit into a trailer!

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That depends on the trailer and the vehicle and the tow bar you have to tow with.
If the log is really 2 storeys high (e.g. 16 ft long) and 60 cm in siam it will weigh about 1.5 tons
A well made std 6 x 4 trailer will carry at best about half that.

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I ask, as I spent some time talking to arborists here in canberra about sourcing material for turning and all I found was cold rejection. One told me that even the cross of Jesus himself would go into the chipper...they grind everything without hesitation or mercy.

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That's pretty typical.

Just to be on the safe side, I would wait until the owners cut the trees down first.

Then you can see if there is any rot from the base up the trunk - mobile phone pictures are your friend here. It may not be worthwhile to proceed. Just my 2 cents worth.

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Originally Posted by rustynail

. If the barrel is thin and straight as you describe, the main log will probably be as boring as bat s*#t.

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I milled a paddock grown Black Walnut (Endiandra Palmerstonii) in Nth Qld some years ago,and its bole was around 50cm,and was quite tall..it had subtle fiddleback all through it,and milled on the quarter,was quite stunning :;...60cm is a reasonable girth,particularly for trees that are growing out in the open,and if the log is sound (free from too many defects),then you possibly will recover a good stack of wood...remember to mill it on the quarter,this will stabilize the boards during seasoning,and increase their asthetics and utility...i do hope that it is a sound log,as everyone should be encouraged to salvage logs from the 'chipper'..i applaud your effort,as you will inevitably find a gem,sooner rather than later,good luck with it Evan...MM:2tsup:

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Originally Posted by MAPLEMAN

I milled a paddock grown Black Walnut (Endiandra Palmerstonii) in Nth Qld some years ago,and its bole was around 50cm,and was quite tall..it had subtle fiddleback all through it,and milled on the quarter,was quite stunning :;...60cm is a reasonable girth,particularly for trees that are growing out in the open,and if the log is sound (free from too many defects),then you possibly will recover a good stack of wood...remember to mill it on the quarter,this will stabilize the boards during seasoning,and increase their asthetics and utility...i do hope that it is a sound log,as everyone should be encouraged to salvage logs from the 'chipper'..i applaud your effort,as you will inevitably find a gem,sooner rather than later,good luck with it Evan...MM:2tsup:

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Maybe I should come and do a 2 week apprenticeship with you MM. Learn the ropes. I can sleep on the ground.

I watched the Lucas boys here at the CWWWS and really enjoyed it.

I've been considering a chainsaw and a little bolt on slabber. But my mates know me, once I start.....I go ballistic, overboard and a bit feral. But that's for another thread. :)

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Originally Posted by Evanism

Maybe I should come and do a 2 week apprenticeship with you MM. Learn the ropes. I can sleep on the ground.

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Evan,you are welcome to come up and learn the ropes :;..you'll be milling like a pro in no time :D,as for for sleeping on the ground,were on 700 acres with creek and river on the doorstep,so plenty of room mate :)...would happily teach you everything you need to know,including a few personal improvisations,about milling logs,timber species etc..MM

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Originally Posted by MAPLEMAN

I milled a paddock grown Black Walnut (Endiandra Palmerstonii) in Nth Qld some years ago,and its bole was around 50cm,and was quite tall..it had subtle fiddleback all through it,and milled on the quarter,was quite stunning :;...60cm is a reasonable girth,particularly for trees that are growing out in the open,and if the log is sound (free from too many defects),then you possibly will recover a good stack of wood...remember to mill it on the quarter,this will stabilize the boards during seasoning,and increase their asthetics and utility...i do hope that it is a sound log,as everyone should be encouraged to salvage logs from the 'chipper'..i applaud your effort,as you will inevitably find a gem,sooner rather than later,good luck with it Evan...MM:2tsup:

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MM you are talking about QLD walnut. Very different to Black Walnut. The interlocking grain in QW makes fiddleback a common occurrence. In BW straight long barrel trees have little feature but the forks and root boles produce some nice figure. This is not to say the timber is not worth milling, it is just to point out the importance of not leaving the best parts behind.

Walnut is prized for musical instruments as well. Luthiers like quartered timber. :hint:, :hint:

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Originally Posted by rustynail

MM you are talking about QLD walnut. Very different to Black Walnut. The interlocking grain in QW makes fiddleback a common occurrence. In BW straight long barrel trees have little feature but the forks and root boles produce some nice figure. This is not to say the timber is not worth milling, it is just to point out the importance of not leaving the best parts behind.

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I am well aware of the fact that the other is Juglans genus,and when milled on the quarter,is very attractive..not boring like bats poo as you inferred( i have seen pics of American Walnut with fiddleback along the entire length of the log,it does have interlocking grain,just like Australian Walnut)...not always a practical task digging up the root ball RN,as the expense of the exercise can go through the roof..the forks of most species produces lovely grain,and as Sebastiaan points out,quarter-sawn material is great for instruments..MM:2tsup:

Yeah Ive seen those pictures to. I am doing a couple of rifle stocks at the moment for a client that has beautiful fiddleback all the way through and its dead set backsawn. You are quite correct saying quarter sawing improves the character of walnut in most cases but my experience with black walnut grown here in Aus is that its not all that brilliant. We mill a lot of walnut, mostly from the Snowy Mtns area. As for the grain being interlocked like QLD walnut, I dont think so. There is an art to digging mill trees. The important thing is having a tree to work with, not just a two foot high stump, then it does become real hard and expensive work. The Walnut boys down here and in Victoria take the lot. There are a lot of walnuts grown in our area, some are now becoming old and nonproductive and are being made available for milling. If we left a stump, I think that would be our last offering. As for musical instruments, rift sawn is even better.