Reminders

I'll start with some reminders. On this site, we have a Resources page which lists members' recommended hardware, lumber, tool and other type of stores. It also lists schools, books, websites for recent speakers and hosts and many other items. If you have a favorite to add to the list then let Jamie Buxton know. You'll find his address on the Contacts page.

We have a library where you can check out books, magazines and videos. Same story, it's on the web or I can bring a copy of the list of items.

Then we have the Answer Guys. Got a problem with a wood working item? Ask The Answer Guys and it's free!

New woodworkers, here is one for you. Need a mentor? Go to the Mentors section of our web site, ask me, or talk with Paul Reif who is heading the program.

There is also a whole Archive of previous newsletters.

So make use of all these goodies.

AND.....Don't forget to make a name tag out of wood for the July meeting!

Walnut

Walnut is used for furniture, architectural woodwork, musical instruments, decorative panels, interior trim, and flooring. Large amounts are also used for veneer. It machines well and is also used as a craft wood for turning and scroll saw projects. Black walnut is sometimes called eastern or American black walnut. There are about twenty species of walnut with six found in the U.S.A. Yesterday's trees reached 150 feet with six-foot diameter trunks. Today's trees are generally 80-100 feet tall with trunks of less than three feet.

The sapwood is creamy white and may be three inches wide. Heartwood is a rich chocolate or purplish brown in color, with a dull sheen. Black walnut is normally straight grained and is noted for its beautiful grain character, producing more figure variation than any other wood. Over the years the wood develops a lustrous patina. It is the only dark brown domestic species. Walnut weighs about 36-38 lbs per cubic foot.

Walnut takes any finish and most complement the lovely satin sheen of the wood. It polishes well. Rarely do you find sap pockets that cause difficulty.

Walnut works easily with power or hand tools but may cause some dulling of cutting edges. Planes well and turning, shaping, routing and sanding all produce crisp detail. With figured crotch wood it is necessary to watch the direction of feed, in both thickness planers and jointers. Fasteners hold well with little tendency to split. Standard adhesives and stains go on uniformly. The wood is rated tough and hard with good steam bending qualities and little movement in service. Wood and sawdust of black walnut are known to cause irritation of the eyes, nose, skin and lungs, and may stimulate allergies and asthma. Use an air helmet or some other filtering device and a good dust collector.

Mark Rand