How Is Walnut For Turning?

[Spec Grade]

I have a lot of walnut blanks for making pens. I tried turning some today, but I stopped because of the large pores in the wood. Will this wood turn down OK, or do I need to CA it to finish turning it?


Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[glycerine]

I've never had a problem with walnut. It may be a bit more open grained than other woods, but should still turn just fine...

 

[mick]

Are you sure it's Walnut? I've never seen it with "large" pores. It normally turns and beautifully. One of the only drawbacks, as Lou mentioned in an earlier post, allergic reaction to Walnut is very very common. Despite this it remains one of my favorite wood to work with or turn.

 

[glycerine]

It could be that you have some wormy wood. Are there open holes or just large grain like oak, for example?

 

[Spec Grade]

No, it's definitely Walnut. No doubt about it. I can actually see the wood pores is why I asked.

 

[gr8danish]

Walnut is nice to turn... If you wipe on a good quality sanding sealer, it will really bring out the rich brown color.

I REALLY like walnut burl, and even Walnut crotch! I scored on a KILLER 5/4 3' x 1.5' board of walnut crotch in the BARGAIN BIN of a local exotic wood supplier. I guess someone didn't know what they had... The crotch has a wicked looking half quilted have burly look to it.

 

[GaryMGg]

Walnut is characterized as an open grained wood. It turns great but more care is required to obtain a spectacular finish than say hard maple, cherry, or many exotics.
Walnut burl is not necessarily open grained.

 

[keithlong]

I have turned a lot of walnut and I love it, it is open grained, but will finish up nicely, just be patient. I am currently making some mini birdhouse christmas ornaments, and using some walnut for the top pieces. I will post pics when I have em finished.

 

[mredburn]

Normally when I turn walnut with open grain it doesnt affect the turning just the finishing. I would have to put a coat or 2 on and then sand it down lightly until the grain areas were filled. Then regular finishing of the blank. If you dont use something to fill the pores of the grain you get divots in the finish.

 

[papaturner]

Walnut does indeed turn very well.This is one of many that I have turned and the finish does well also.

 

[Chasper]

Walnut is a weed with a undeserved reputation as a quality wood. I find it good for fence posts, it doesn't rot. It turns nicely, but makes boring pens.

 

[sbwertz]

I turn almost all my walnut cross grain. It makes bands of light and dark across the pen and really highlites the chatoyancy.

Sharon

 

[jskeen]

Walnut is a weed with a undeserved reputation as a quality wood. I find it good for fence posts, it doesn't rot. It turns nicely, but makes boring pens.

I would offer as a counter argument:

http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=68293

'nuff said!