If you are in the market for live-edge slabs that are dry and ready to go, read on.
The tree service I use outside Cincinnati has seven beautiful walnut slabs available that they have cut, dried in a vacuum kiln and are stacked and ready to go. I got to inspect the slabs last week during a visit and they are sweet. I didn’t have my moisture meter with me, but they felt dry and ready to use.
Here are some details:
- They have two slabs that measure 3” thick and 12’2” long. These are 45” wide (!!) at the crotch end and 27” to 34” wide on the bole.
- They have four slabs that measure 3” thick and 12’2” long. These are 47” wide at the crotch end and 34” wide on the bole.
- They have one slab with bark on one face that is 136” long at the crotch end and 20” at the bole end. The thickness varies because of the bark surface, but the middle bit is almost 6” thick.
I’m listing these here as a favor to the seller and you. I don’t get a commission and have no interest in the deal.
This was one impressive walnut tree, and I’m happy these guys were able to save it from the chipper so it can live on.
For information on pricing and availability, contact Jay Butcher at 513-616-8873 (voice or text) or via email.
— Christopher Schwarz
The thing I hate most about large, live-edge slabs of walnut is… trying to take good photographs of them! I can never seem to capture just how awesome and immense they are. And there’s no smellovision to pass on that wonderful walnut smell.
Other than that, they’re wonderful. 😀
Out curiosity what would be the price of one slab. I ask because I have five black walnut yard. One is 4 feet in diameter and another is absolut straight with not branches for about 20 feet and 1 1/2 feet in diameter.
Here in the Denver area walnut slabs in the 12/4 range are going for about $20 board foot, but that is dry. I know of at least one bill that will drop the price for less than dry material.
I paid $600. for a walnut board 1-1/4″ thick by 27″ wide by 6′ long 5 years ago or so, it had been air dried for 4 years to 25% MC and kiln dried down to 11% after air drying. I asked, why so expensive? and was told that air drying was a major cost factor & was required if you didn’t want the board to split, check, cup, etc. Also, felling the trees was expensive as they were often in old neighborhoods in cities and close to houses, power lines and the like.
I don’t know if any of this is true but, i can say it was used in a restore project as a single board top for a 1760 Queen Anne table and the board looks as good today as it did 5 years ago when installed. Money well spent i say!
I wouldn’t consider that expensive.
Me either, it worked out to about $35 per BF though so not cheap but man o man, what a magnificent piece of timber. I am guessing that if the quantity were more BF than i needed the price could/would go down but, no matter how one slices and dices it, when you buy timber of that width, it ain’t gonna be cheap.
The thing I hate most about large, live-edge slabs of walnut is… trying to take good photographs of them! I can never seem to capture just how awesome and immense they are.
Yeah, it’s the same with antique furniture, it’s impossible to authenticate old furniture with photo’s alone. I have often wondered why this is and i suspect that it might be that the object is just to large to capture in a detailed way with a camera.
interwsting
interesting *