Rough cut black walnut value

[Prashun Patel]

There's a lot of 'home harvested' black walnut and cherry around my area. It tends to sell at a steep discount relative to branded wood from a dealer. My experience is that this is because home harvest is not graded, and hence is hit or miss. Your market is limited because people will have to come and inspect it themselves. Also, if you want to move the whole lot, you'll have to reduce the per bf price.

You'll do best to take a lot of pics and post on CL. Since that's free, you might as well start high and then reduce if it fails to move.

[Jeff Duncan]

Another reason air dried wood tends to sell for short money is that lacking proper kiln drying the boards can contain bugs. Bugs which when brought into a shop can contaminate your other wood....bad situation when you find little holes bored into some of your choice wood

Anyway can't help you price as I don't buy air dried myself, but the $1 a bd. ft. sounds reasonable as it's also about what kiln dried goes for at auctions around here. Of course you can always price it higher and drop as necessary....you never know what somebody will be willing to spend

good luck,
JeffD

[Dan Masshardt]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I really appreciate it.

[Carl Beckett]

In my area - not less than $3 bf.

Ya I paid $1/bf for some green cherry.... but it is pretty far between to find dried (even air dried) black walnut at $1/bf - assuming its even halfway decent.

Sure some people can find decent cherry/walnut at $1/bf - but not that many. The thicker stuff is worth more. $6 to $7 for KD retail, so at 3 you are half off that - my bet is you get some takers at that price.

[Cody Colston]

You got some good replies. Price will depend on quality and that depends on grading. If it is all sold as mill run then the price Danny quoted would be very good, indeed. I wouldn't pay that much but I have access to all the Walnut I can saw...free. (stealth gloat)

Air dried lumber is still air dried, regardless of how many years it has sat. Being in a barn will help it get to a lower MC than being exposed to the outside air but it will still need further drying for indoor projects. The bug issue is also a concern but it won't take much investigation to determine if it is infested. If here are piles of frass around the lumber, it will need to be heated in a kiln to kill the infestation. Topical treatments like Tim-Bor aren't effective on larvae that is already inside the lumber.

For the widow's sake, I hope you can sell it for a decent price but just don't get her hopes too high.

[Dave Zellers]

... piles of frass ...

Cool! Learned a new word.

A good start to the new year.

[Dan Masshardt]

Thanks again.

I think I'll start at $3 and let anyone interested pick through for what they want. Then sell the lesser quality in higher quantity cheaper.

I have to decide what and how much I want to get for myself too. I'm keeping the stuff in the 4x4" and 6x6" sizes for spindle turning for sure.

I should take my moisture meter to it but I'm pretty sure it's dry to work with. It's been years stacked inside with spacers and a halfway decemt amount of airflow. I believe he's already built tables etc with this wood.

[Cody Colston]

Thanks again.

I should take my moisture meter to it but I'm pretty sure it's dry to work with. It's been years stacked inside with spacers and a halfway decemt amount of airflow. I believe he's already built tables etc with this wood.

Nothing wrong with that. Just let the potential buyers know that it is strictly air dried. That way, you are covered and they will be advised.

Good luck with your sales.

[Dan Masshardt]

Thanks Cody. I like the Jim Elliot quote in your signature line too. :-)

[Ben Martin]

Where might you be located at Dan? Perhaps some Creekers are interested...

[Danny Hamsley]

$3 is fair. $1 is way too cheap for black walnut that is air dried. $1 is about what you pay for low grade 4/4 pine at the Box Stores. Some people here occasionally get great deals, but that is not the "market". Do her right. Stand on $3, and you are giving local woodworkers a good deal.

Go on the Internet and check out black walnut prices. You won't find much if any for $3 from the sawmills that offer it for sale.

[Carl Beckett]

the $1 a bd. ft. sounds reasonable as it's also about what kiln dried goes for at auctions around here.

Hi Jeff,

Since we are in the same area, I would be interested to learn of the auctions where I can pick up KD walnut at $1/bf.