What parts to keep?

[pencheff]

This walnut tree has been a thorn in my side since my neighbor planted it at the corner of "his" property 27 years ago. He moved. The tree didn't. Now all the new neighbors think it's my tree. Well I got an estimate from an arborist and it's finally coming down.

The trunk is about 13" in diameter. The one big branch coming off the right side is about 8" -10" d.

What parts do I keep? I know branch wood is "reaction" wood but does that apply to the big 10" diameter branches too?

I dont have time to cut the good parts into managable sizes nor the space in the shop to keep those bits. Can I just have the arborist leave the trunk mostly whole, paint the ends and cut off what I need when I can use it?

 

[dkulze]

Any wood is good turning wood, when it comes to walnut. I'd suggest keeping anything over about 5" diameter, less if you want.

Congrats,
Dietrich

 

[Brian Hahn]

I'd keep as much as possible. Walnut heart wood is rated as being rot resistant so it should keep for a long time, especially if you can split the pieces open to control the cracking. The branch reaction wood might be nicely figured, so check them out before you toss the big ones.

 

[underdog]

And I hear the root ball is pretty good too. Sometimes you get a burl out of them that some folks will pay big bucks for.

I've seen a pretty cool turning from a root ball in that book you see at the bookstores all the time.. 500 bowls or somesuch name.

I got an ornamental plum rootball that I'm going to look at a little closer...

 

[john lucas]

Don't get your hopes up too much. A tree that tall for 27 years of growth may not have that much dark heartwood. I cut one down for a friend who said I could have the wood. The tree was about 16" at the base. The heartwood was only 6" thick near the base and thinner on the way up. I still got some good stuff from it but it sure wasn't what I was expecting.

 

[TurningDog]

What parts do I keep? I know branch wood is "reaction" wood but does that apply to the big 10" diameter branches too?

Yep it applies to big branches especially. I have a friend who works as a tree cutter and refuses to take anything near a branch. I told him to drop them at my house I have some red oak branches that are 20 to 40" in diameter. However since your turning the wood and not making flat work don't worry about it being reactionary. Turned pieces are going to warp distort and crack some as they dry anyway, which is the big reason why people say stay away from reactionary wood.

 

[Dave Peebles]

Hi Greg,

I guess my question is.... why are you taking it down? It looks like a very healthy tree and will only get better with a few more years under the sun.

Dave

 

[Jake Debski]

I suspect........................

Hi Greg,

I guess my question is.... why are you taking it down? It looks like a very healthy tree and will only get better with a few more years under the sun.

Dave

raking up all that fallen " fruit" every fall is part of the reason. 😀

 

[pencheff]

I guess my question is.... why are you taking it down? It looks like a very healthy tree and will only get better with a few more years under the sun.

It creates a mess every fall which I have to clean up. Also it is killing any lawn that I try to grow under it. Don't know if that's due to allelopathy or just because the tree is malevolent. :mad:

I'd prefer to see a nice maple in its place. They have a more pleasing shape, peacefully coexist with other plant life in the vicinity and only drop those cute little helicopters when they seed. This thing fills my yard with baseballs that rot in place until I rake them up. Ugh.