What to do with a 300 yo Walnut tree

rsvmark

Rushed back from work to discover this had happened in my back garden. 

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We lost our beautiful Walnut tree in todays storms and its such a shame. While it will keep me in logs for decades, I need to try and find out whether this beautiful wood can be used or sold - not because I want to profit, but to cover what will be a big clean up bill. The wood was used for gunstocks, fine furniture etc but how do I find a company or woodyard responsible to do it justice and make sure it goes to good use?

Anyone got any experience in this area? 

Stratavarious

Some woodworking / artisan Facebook groups might advise.

Sorry about your tree.

Sporky

So the bloke in the blue shirt was trapped under the tree for 300 years? 

Kilgore

Well this is a guitar forum...

Teyeplayer

You should get a couple of really nice telecaster and jazzmaster bodies out of that. How’s about getting it dried and planed to size and then become a purveyor of super lush guitar bodies to the fretboard?

Kittyfrisk

Sorry to hear about your lovely tree, I'd really hate to have something like that happen.
Walnut is a lovely wood for the uses that you mention & also for guitars too. I don't know what the situation is like selling wet unseasoned timber though, as it's such a big risk. Will it season well or not...
I wouldn't have thought a clean up bill would be that high? I'd get my chainsaw out & work through it at my leisure, getting further help as needed.

m_c

From what I remember, Walnut wood isn't that valuable. It's the root stock that is sought after for it's figuring (think tacky 80/90s car dashboards!)

However that looks pretty rotten, so I doubt there's going to be much value in it.

earwighoney

@rsvmark

PM sent.

TTony

@roland might have some suggestions.

IIRC, he's done similar before.

crunchman

  Walnut is sometimes used for acoustic guitar back and sides.  I'm pretty sure that Brook made some guitars with back and sides from walnut that got blown down in the 1987 storm.  It would need to be stored and dried for a good while though, not to mention sliced up in a sawmill.

Ben Crowe of Crimson did some YouTube videos where he visited a timber supplier.  There are companies out there that would want it.

Roland

@Rabs might have contacts.

If it’s blown down then it’s probably structurally unsound, and the wood won’t have much value. Is it rotten up the centre? If it’s sound then there could be a few guitar necks and bodies in that trunk once it’s seasoned.

Where does the clear up cost come from? If you know how to use a chainsaw then it’s about a day’s work to log and stack anything above 2” diameter. It would make a family activity. 

bertie

 Teyeplayer said:

You should get a couple of really nice telecaster and jazzmaster bodies out of that. How’s about getting it dried and planed to size and then become a purveyor of super lush guitar bodies to the fretboard?

or even better,  a custom made acoustic (or 10)


give the guys at Brook a ring

Roland

TTony said:

@roland might have some suggestions.

IIRC, he's done similar before.

It crossed my mind to offer help in exchange for a boot load, but my wife has the same opinion of my wood collection as most wives have about guitar collections.

Rabs

Yes I do know a company but it depends where abouts you live as they tend to work in and around London...

But if its too far for them, they may have contacts for outside of London.. If its in London definitely call them they work with a lot of the London councils and have won awards for what they do.

Bruce is the boss..  A good man doing great work.
https://www.fallenandfelled.co.uk/ ;  or if you want I can drop him a line for you as I used to work for them.

If you are outside of London just find a local timber yard.. They will either be able to do it or will probably know someone who can.

Offset

Hugely sad.  Hope you find something worthwhile to do with it other than burn it - but in the current climate supplementing your gas/leccy bill with firewood is no bad thing!

WezV

Andy from prime timbers will be able to advise if its worth doing much with.

Check out his Instagram
https://instagram.com/primetimber1?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

He is often frustrated the English grown walnut is just not as valuable as comparable wood from other countries, even when its the same species... this is very true for rifle stocks

CavemanGrogg

Sporky said:

So the bloke in the blue shirt was trapped under the tree for 300 years? 

He does look good for his age, and going for 300 years without sun light.

Jaycee

WezV said:

Andy from prime timbers will be able to advise if its worth doing much with.

Check out his Instagram
https://instagram.com/primetimber1?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

He is often frustrated the English grown walnut is just not as valuable as comparable wood from other countries, even when its the same species... this is very true for rifle stocks

Was going to suggest the same  http://www.primetimber.co.uk/

ArchtopDave

Jaycee said:

WezV said:

Andy from prime timbers will be able to advise if its worth doing much with.

Check out his Instagram
https://instagram.com/primetimber1?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

He is often frustrated the English grown walnut is just not as valuable as comparable wood from other countries, even when its the same species... this is very true for rifle stocks

Was going to suggest the same  http://www.primetimber.co.uk/

Either this /\  ......, or I'd have thought ring up David Dyke and ask his advice, as to whether he could manage it, or who he can suggest.

Reverend

have you tried building a wicker man to ensure a fruitful harvest?

drofluf

crunchman said:

  Walnut is sometimes used for acoustic guitar back and sides.  I'm pretty sure that Brook made some guitars with back and sides from walnut that got blown down in the 1987 storm.  It would need to be stored and dried for a good while though, not to mention sliced up in a sawmill.

You mean like this one?

To my ears at least it’s a sweet sounding wood. If it were me I’d have some put aside for a special guitar. 

P.S. sorry you lost what looks like a lovely tree.