[Woodcarver] Black Walnut

[Joe Dillett]

> Joe,

>

> In your opinion where does butternut fall in hardness?

>

> Jim D.

> http://www.picturetrail.com/oldtool2

> http://www.jdscrafts.com

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Hi Jim,

For me butternut (aka white walnut also called oilnut) and basswood are 
about the same carving hardness.

Average Specific Gravity (which relates pretty well to hardness) for 
butternut 0.38, basswood 0.37, catalpa 0.41, black walnut 0.55 as compared 
to white oak 0.68 or red oak 0.63

Butternut is getting HARDER (to purchase) just found 900 bd ft for $7.25 a 
board foot (ouch). (Notice how I worked the word harndess in there? hehehe)

Lately I'm finding it very HARD to find the light colored butternut (almost 
basswood color). A tree of life I did from butternut 20 years ago needs 
another 51 roses carved to expand the tree. We selected the lightest 
butternut we could find, but after carving all 51 roses the clear sealer 
still made them too dark to match the older roses. We're now recarving all 
51 roses in basswood and staining them slightly to match the old roses.

Butternut is HARDER to finish because it tends to fuzz. If it is carved with 
sharp tools it will not fuzz. Also a light sanding after the first coat of 
sealer removes most of the fuzzies.

We're going to miss butternut when its gone. Catalpa is a closer match than 
most woods with a little more sparkle in the grain. You have to see it up 
close to tell the difference.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
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