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Vagaries of walnut, tips?

Jamie Straw

Jamie Straw

Joined
May 28, 2015
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Location
Bainbridge Island, WA
Recently made a couple of pie-server handles from walnut -- it was two different pieces spindle stock I've had sitting on a shelf for years, no idea what they were labeled or where I got them. They looked very similar but turned differently, with very tight grain on one, more open grain on the other, making quite a difference in the appeal of the two handles. Looking for advice on what kind(s) of walnut to look for when shopping, and any tips on the grain appearance, for handles and wine-glass stems. TIA!
 
I've only turned a few pieces of walnut and the characteristics varied considerably. I turned a bowl gouge handle out of walnut that is a very deep chocolate color and hard as the dickens. It dulled tools almost instantly. The wood was full of mineral crystals. I've turned other light chocolate colored walnut that was about equivalent to mesquite in hardness. I bought a few blocks of Claro Walnut (Northern California Walnut) at SWAT. It is a dark walnut and turns reasonably well. It is a beautiful wood and I would recommend it.
 
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