Species such as maple and walnut dry at an intermediate rate, ie a 1” walnut board air dried in the south in the summer time will dry in about 120 days, and species such as oak, mesquite, and hickory dry very slowly (ie 1” per year).
After washing and sorting, allow the nuts to dry for two or three weeks.
Let the slabs air-dry until the wood is dried to less than 20% moisture content. This will take some time (years) so be patient. Once the wood moisture content is below 20% it can be slowly dried in a kiln to something around 10 or 11%. It is now safe to work the wood into a table top.
Go into the kiln and use a moisture meter with needles and test 20 pieces. If you see wetter readings, then believe them and continue equalizing (which prevents over-drying). For 8/4 walnut, 45 days is about the shortest you can dry from green to 7% MC. Of course, the earlier part of the schedule is the most critical.
The kernel of a young, only torn walnut has a light color, after lying for several days, the kernel it darkens a little. This is a natural and normal process. After drying, the kernel takes on its permanent color.
Though walnuts can be eaten as it is by removing the outer shell, the best way to have them is by soaking overnight. Just soak 2-4 walnut pieces overnight in a cup of water and have them first thing in the morning. Soaking walnuts helps in reducing the bad cholesterol levels in the body.
Direct exposure to sunlight over a long time will change the coloring chemicals of walnut and cause the reduction of their dark brown color. Also, the level of exposure will increase the speed of the color shift from dark to pale. However, walnut furniture fades like mad in sunlight.
Eventually, the wood will reach a moisture content that is in equilibrium with the surrounding ambient air and humidity. While a 1-inch red oak board may take two to three months to air-dry, a 2-inch board may take six to eight months, and even thicker lumber may take years.
Kiln drying brings the moisture content down to around 10%-16% depending on the wood species and dimensions. Another added benefit (since the wood is heated, usually around 125 degrees): it kills any insects that could be lurking in the wood. It's no wonder why most, if not all framing lumber for houses, is Kiln Dried.
Most softwood lumber kilns operate below 115 °C (239 °F) temperature. Hardwood lumber kiln drying schedules typically keep the dry bulb temperature below 80 °C (176 °F). Difficult-to-dry species might not exceed 60 °C (140 °F). Dehumidification kilns are very similar to conventional kilns in basic construction.
1. Oil-Based Finishes: these finishes penetrate deep into the wood fibers, bringing out the rich colors and unique grain patterns of walnut. 2. Water-Based Finishes: These finishes offer excellent durability and protection for walnut.
General Finishes EF Sanding Sealer is a high quality acrylic waterborne sanding sealer that builds fast and makes sanding smooth and easy. For wood with large, open grain, such as walnut or mahogany, sanding sealer is especially handy as a final fill after most of the grain has been evened out with grain filler.
Walnut trees thrive in fertile, deep, well-drained soil. They begin to bear fruit four to i ve years after being planted and can continue to grow and bear fruit for a century or more. Walnuts are harvested using mechanical shakers that shake the nut to the ground during harvest time in September through November.
Walnut oil dries more slowly than linseed oil, drying in four or five days. It is said to have a less tendency to crack than linseed oil, but this has not be verified by research.
The Black Walnut is one of the most expensive and lucrative trees to sell, thanks to its high-quality dark wood. The tree ranges from $5- $10 per board foot, although it can cost more depending on other factors. In most cases, your 20-inch tree can fetch you $700- $800.
You can dry them outside on the ground in a single layer, so long as the sun is shining and nighttime temperatures are agreeable, though you may need to cover them with a plastic net to deter walnut scavenging birds. If you have space in your greenhouse, you could dry them inside on a table or screen.
With green timber, you can begin building right away without having to wait for the wood to dry, or having the added cost for kiln drying, which uses environmentally damaging fossil fuels during the drying process. However, fresh timber will shrink as it dries.
Rot, fungus and mildew.
Checking and splitting creates voids that become a breeding ground for moisture issues that can cause decay. Kiln drying logs in high heat also sanitizes the wood, killing off destructive pests and larva.
One year of air-drying per inch of thickness is optimal. True, but .... Wood will reach an equilibrium air-dry MC (or EMC) at that rate, but it will continue to lose moisture and shrink when brought indoors. The thicker the wood, the longer the drying time.
High-temperature Dry Kilns
This type of kiln was developed to dry softwoods. Commercial high-temperature kilns can dry large quantities of lumber in one day. However, only a few species of easily dried hardwoods can be dried in this fashion.
"Essential nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, and zinc are better absorbed by the body when you soak the nuts. The water removes the phytic acid present in acids which causes indigestion. So, soaking nuts helps in digesting them properly and reaping the benefits of these nutrients.
Unlike cherry, maple, and oak (which all darken in color as they age), walnut wood will actually lighten slightly over time.
“This is to help prevent sunburn, especially where trees are up against concrete and roadways,” he added. Surround® is a white film of kaolin particles that is sprayed on the foliage and nuts as a wettable powder.