My first project with this wood. I got a moisture meter, and the thinner stuff is ready. I think the 1" stuff will be ready soon.
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Making boards from trees
- Thread starter Jisch
- Start date
I am not sure I have ever seen sap and heart wood from black walnut used before. In fact before cutting these logs open I didn't know the sap wood would be so white, though I have bought a few pieces of black walnut with small sap wood parts, I think it looks cool. My next one will be a bookmatched set.
I like the layout with the heart and sap wood in the above bass- looks more natural and flowing than all the symetrical book-matched tops IMO.
I'm not a guitar builder, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night...
I have a pile of splated maple from a tree that fell in my yard. I approached a couple of reputable builders in my area, both of whom said come back in 8 to 10 years after the wood has fully dried out.
How long is the wood you are using sitting, and what moisture level is acceptable?
I have a pile of splated maple from a tree that fell in my yard. I approached a couple of reputable builders in my area, both of whom said come back in 8 to 10 years after the wood has fully dried out.
How long is the wood you are using sitting, and what moisture level is acceptable?
The general consensus (according to what I read) is that it's 6 months of drying per 1/2" of thickness. I measured this at 8% after about 5 months - it was 3/8"s thick, so that general thing seemed to hold. That is variable based on where it's stored, the humidity in the air and the density of the wood.
You have to stack it and sticker it to let the air flow through the pile. Sealing the ends is important as well to prevent cracking. Even though I carefully sealed the ends on all this wood, I have some that cracked. My dad was excited to get access to a pile of maple that had been sitting for a long time, it was cut into boards, but they didn't do anything besides cut it into boards, he said it was all rotten, he didn't get a single piece out of it.
You have to stack it and sticker it to let the air flow through the pile. Sealing the ends is important as well to prevent cracking. Even though I carefully sealed the ends on all this wood, I have some that cracked. My dad was excited to get access to a pile of maple that had been sitting for a long time, it was cut into boards, but they didn't do anything besides cut it into boards, he said it was all rotten, he didn't get a single piece out of it.
