Post a Response Subscribe Guidelines

Forestry

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Post a Response
The staff at WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at any WOODWEB Forum. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.
Your Name:
Your Website:
Email Address:
Subject: Re: National Champion Black Walnut

Message:
(read message guidelines).
Note: Do not use the below fields to advertise your business - only for links related to the discussion.
Thread Related Link URL:
Thread Related Link Title:
  To "point" to an image (picture) from another website, provide the URL (Web Address) of the file ( include ONE reference to http:// )
Thread Related Image URL:

Date of your Birth:

Upload a Thread Related File:
File Types: Image (gif-jpg-png-bmp), PDF, Sketchup, Video (mov avi wmv mpeg mpg mp4 ogg). (Image Upload Tips)

I have read the Site User Agreement and agree with the Terms
  <= Check to receive e-mail notification of responses

Message Thread:

National Champion Black Walnut

2/11/13       
phil Member

I have a National Champion Black Walnut on my property. Please take a look at this standing tree and tell me what you think the best market use is for the tree. It's over 100' high and wide with long trunk branches in excess of 24" diameter. Pictured in front of my barn it's dwarfing the barn which is 30' high in front. The long logs can be cut in 10' lengths and the stump is about 6' or more across.


View higher quality, full size image (600 X 450)

2/12/13       #2: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Texas Timbers  Member

I don't think a BW tree with a diameter of only 24" is going to be a grand champion even just in your county. I have felled BW trees larger right here in my county. I don't know what the grand champion is in your state but here in Texas, where trees do not generally get as big as in other regions of north America, our grand champion is just shy of 5 feet in diameter which is probably small compared to what I would guess is the national champion.

Your tree is tall with an impressive crown but I think the small diameter would bring the points so low it couldn't possibly be a grand champion. I may be wrong, but I don't think so.

2/12/13       #3: National Champion Black Walnut ...
phil Member

Texas, you're wrong! The branches are 24" in diameter. The base of the tree is over 7 feet wide. It's already been awarded a National Champion status.

2/12/13       #4: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Texas Timbers  Member

Website: http://www.woodbarter.com

Okay I missed the part about the trunk being 6'. Yes then of course it's a doosy! The crotches will make stunning table tops. I'd love to have one myself what state do you live in?

2/12/13       #5: National Champion Black Walnut ...
phil Member

The tree is in California, near Placerville.

2/12/13       #6: National Champion Black Walnut ...
mark

The same thing it's been doing for the last 200 or so years is a good start. Maybe tourism, but felling a national champ... where's your patriotism?

2/13/13       #7: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Kilgore Trout Member

Your photo is unclear at best. The tree forward? The spreading tree in the background?

The forward tree is not worth discussing, let it grow to marketable size.

The spreading tree in the back has virtually no sawlog, so has little/no value in that respect. Limbs are about worthless except for novelty items and such. The trunk may have some interest to a local furniture maker for a slab table - if it is sound and stays together after drying - $500.00 maybe?

I suspect there is a motivation coming from the stories about Walnut trees fetching huge numbers, enriching their owners. Mostly all myth. Here in Indiana, heart of Walnut country, every now and then we hear about some locals that get all likkered up and go out and cut someone's Walnut tree and try to haul it away.

Either the tree falls on one of them or their truck, or the log is too big to haul away, or they figger out there is nowhere they can sell the log, and if they did, it would only be worth about one tenth what they thought. It's an old story.

2/13/13       #8: National Champion Black Walnut ...
phil Member

" get all likkered up", and "they figger"

Really, well out here in CA we don't likker unless she's real cute, and has a good they figger. But I digress, perhaps you're correct about the tree's comparative value. The aesthetic value of the giant is the best value. I'm trying to assist an aging woman who is destitute after caring for her terminally ill son for years and he's now passed and she's desperate to save her land. The tree is the only thing I can see to provide an infusion of much needed cash.

Thanks

2/13/13       #9: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Dave Boyt  Member

Website: http://www.norwoodsawmills.com

Phil, I wish you the best with the tree. You need to look past the conventional markets for a tree like that. Find someone in your area who has the vision and the means (big chain saw, portable sawmill). The trunk looks too short to mill,but possibly cutting "cookies" for table tops would have value. Limbs aren't good for lumber-- too much tension in them,but again, short pieces, maybe turning stock. Crotches could have value, possibly as gun stocks, but it takes someone who knows the markets and techniques. Even with all that, you'd be lucky to come up with enough money for the tree to buy a used pickup truck. Wish I could be more help. Sounds like it is for a noble cause.

2/13/13       #10: National Champion Black Walnut ...
JeffM

Taking down a beautiful tree like that would be a crime! Looks like a live oak from the distant view.

2/19/13       #11: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Scott Neeld  Member

Hey, Phil

A tree like that will need some special marketing help to fetch you top $$.

You might try contacting Sam Talarico, who travels all over the world for special lumber.

A champion such as yours may be of interest to him, & he knows as much about marketing specialty woods as anyone, I would think.

Good luck.

Scott

http://talaricohardwoods.com/

3/1/13       #12: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Chicomsuk

I would take it down for a pickup truck load of slabbed crotches. The branches are great for turning.

7/3/13       #13: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Don Juvet Member

Website: http://juvetwoodwork.com

I am in Placerville and may be able to help you with this decision.
I have connections with a mill locally that has a WM1000 bandsaw mill.
You can reach me at The Gingerbread Man off Missouri Flat rd. or contact me on my cell 530-409-5639

8/27/17       #14: National Champion Black Walnut ...
Joel Patrick

It doesn't make sense to fell this tree. From the distant photo we can see that there's really no veneer value to speak of. Where's the 16 foot log? The butt log has impressive diameter, but with no length the value is hugely diminished. There are literally millions of good veneer quality Black Walnut trees out there, but only one "National Champion Black Walnut Tree". I'd work on that angle rather than try to cut it down for the relative few pennies involved.

 

Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)



    • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Related Information:
    Products: Sawing & Drying
    Resources: Timber & Lumber Calculators
    Forums: Sawing & Drying, Value-Added Wood Processing
    Exchanges: Lumber
    Galleries: Sawmill

    Recent Threads at all Forums