Walnut stock blanks--what to do with them...

[gene pool]

I had several walnut trees go into shock from last year's drought. They were not going to survive so I harvested the trunks into rifle stock blanks. I have over 100 blanks stacked in my shop, air-drying for the next 3 years.

I would like to sell all of them at one time. But if I have to, I will peddle them off one at a time over the next several years. The wood is really nice, grown in the Red River Valley where cold fronts often stall. I think that is what makes the colors and grain in the walnut so unusual. I have several custom rifles, and any one of these blanks would make me proud to have for my own.

This is the first time I have done this sort of thing, so I need ideas on how to contact potential buyers...assuming there is anyone interested. Does anyone here have any experience doing this? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you,
Gene Pool

 

[Phil]

Gene,

If you`d like to sell one at a time i would like to see what you have in your wood pile.

PM me if you decide to piece them out.

Thanks,

Phil.

 

[Glenn Powell]

First thing to do when drying stocks is dip the end grain in wax so they don't dry out too fast and crack, if you haven't already done so. Post some picks here and you might be able to unload them. If its English, I am looking for just the right one, and not in a hurry to cut it and willing to sit on it till it dried. Post some picks.

 

[JeffG]

+++on waxing the ends, it's easy insurance to save good lumber.

 

[spclark]

Yes, waxing the end grain MUST be your first priority! Should be done as soon as possible once the trunks have been felled.

If you want to sell the bunch as a lot I suggest you give Doan Trevor a call. The kind of work he does can be seen on his website:

http://doantrevor.com/

- and you ought to be able to contact him there too.

Goof luck and let us all know if you reach a deal, or end up selling those blanks one at a time please.

 

[gene pool]

Gentlemen,

Yes, I waxed the ends correctly, and they are stacked with 1x2 spacers where they will dry uniformly. The blanks are cut generously where the stock maker can make decisions. The thickness is approximately 3" on 90% of them. The rest are a little thinner, but with adequate thickness to make a nice stock.

Thank you for your comments.

Gene Pool

 

[Preacher]

I would LOVE to go through that pile of wood in about 8 years... I hope you got into the stump wood too..

 

[gene pool]

I would LOVE to go through that pile of wood in about 8 years... I hope you got into the stump wood too..

Dear Preacher,

You will be welcome to in 8 years, or whenever you want for that matter. I got the stumps too. Here is a picture of pushing one of them over so as to save the rootball.

Gene

 

[Glenn Powell]

Got hydraulics, and ain't scared to use em ;D

 

[gene pool]

Got hydraulics, and ain't scared to use em ;D

Actually, that is the man who clears timber and digs ponds on my property. He was digging a pond close by so I had him come dig around the roots and push over the walnut trees. If you will zoom in on the photo, you can see his bulldozer in the background. With those two pieces of equipment he can dig great ponds...as well as clear land.

Gene

 

[Fearnowind]

I'm a synthetic stock fan but I am a wood worker (wood lathe) and I'd make a couple more suggestions for storing your blanks. Air circulation and maintaining as constant a temperature as possible are also important. Also would be a good idea to be sure to turn the blanks over every 60/90 days.