strange walnut

[orangeman]

I bought about 250 bf of walnut for $400 ($1.60/bf). It had been air dried for perhaps 10 years and is not of the best quality as you can see. Some of the boards were uniform in color but many had color variations. Strangest walnut I have ever seen. At least I didn't give an arm and a leg for the lot. I've attached three pics of puzzles I have cut from this batch of walnut. Now the question: Do you think the puzzles with color variation will sell at the same price as the uniform colored ones? My wife likes the uniform color. I like the color variation as I think it adds interest to the puzzles. Your thoughts?

Edited January 28, 2017 by orangeman

[Rolf]

I like color variations. Pick the grain and position the pattern to take the greatest advantage of the variations.

[dgman]

I think the color variations are fine Brian.

Commercially available Walnut is steamed to even out the color. Naturally, air dried Walnut is not. Something to know before you buy air dried Walnut.

[Rob]

I like both Brian.  Try them both at the same price and see what happens.  They are both walnut after all and some people will like the uniform colour and others will prefer the mixed.

 

Rob

[RangerJay]

It is not unusual to get that kind of colour variation in walnut - your job is to take advantage of it - meaning you need to tailor the wood to the project - which may also mean any laminating you have to do needs to suit what you want out of the project as well.

[hawkeye10]

I bought about 250 bf of walnut for $400 ($1.60/bf). It had been air dried for perhaps 10 years and is not of the best quality as you can see. Some of the boards were uniform in color but many had color variations. Strangest walnut I have ever seen. At least I didn't give an arm and a leg for the lot. I've attached three pics of puzzles I have cut from this batch of walnut. Now the question: Do you think the puzzles with color variation will sell at the same price as the uniform colored ones? My wife likes the uniform color. I like the color variation as I think it adds interest to the puzzles. Your thoughts?

I like the color variation. In the Peterson books they do a lot with heart and sap wood combined. The walnut I buy is washed and I really don't like it. I don't think I will buy any more walnut from them. The walnut I bought about three weeks ago was $5.35 a board foot so you did get a great deal. That dragon looks real good.

[lawson56]

I Love the Variations.I would buy one of those first.Great job by the way.  

[Scrolling Steve]

I too like the color variations .....both look good!

[DukeNukem]

They all look good just watch how you place the pattern try to make them all more like the dragon that's my fav. Jerry

[newfie]

I like them they look great thanks for sharing

[rdatelle]

I think some variations will look good but others might not. Try and oil a few up and see what they look like. Might look even better and richer looking.

[Gordster]

I like the variations also..you did great on these two for sure.

[amazingkevin]

I bought about 250 bf of walnut for $400 ($1.60/bf). It had been air dried for perhaps 10 years and is not of the best quality as you can see. Some of the boards were uniform in color but many had color variations. Strangest walnut I have ever seen. At least I didn't give an arm and a leg for the lot. I've attached three pics of puzzles I have cut from this batch of walnut. Now the question: Do you think the puzzles with color variation will sell at the same price as the uniform colored ones? My wife likes the uniform color. I like the color variation as I think it adds interest to the puzzles. Your thoughts?

I made 30 mothers day projects .All the same but painted different but still a beach scene on each one.After loading them up i noticed a drill hole on top of one of the stands.Quick thinking i glued a cats eye marble on the hole.when i displayed them the first one to sell was the odd ball,yes the one with the marble.I asked why she wanted that one and she said because it was different than all the rest.What you have is the same thing,supply and demand.Be happy everything sells.

[DWSUDEKUM]

Very nicely done.  The color variations are from near the heart wood of the Black Walnut log when it is cut.  Thanks for sharing these with us.  As for making the puzzles with color variations if you are creative you can use the color variations as a highlight for sections of the puzzle.  

 

DW

Edited January 29, 2017 by DWSUDEKUM

[wombatie]

I just love woods with variation in color, it adds life to a piece somehow.  Great looking puzzles, love the last one with the extra color variations.

 

Marg

[heppnerguy]

I love the look of both.. I always tried to use a piece of wood that had no color variations to it because I thought it more appealing, as your wife does. But as time goes by, I find that people love the variations in natural color in wood, Maybe because you often do not see that in most mass produced wood items.  Just a thought. The fact that what some people prefer is not necessarily the preference of another. That is why I am learning that I often sell something quickly that I, personally was not even interested in making ..So go figure

 

Dick

heppnertguy

[tomsteve]

that white in the 2 is sapwood. the dragon looks like it could have been cut from a small tree or branch, but I have seen streaks of sapwood in the middle ish of a board.. very sweet!

 

I say put your regular selling price on em and see if they sell.

[Rolf]

Hawkey, What do you mean the walnut is washed?

[MTCowpoke22]

There's nothing wrong with solid coloring, but to me, its boring. The variations are what make each piece unique.

[keefie]

I definately prefer the colour variations, I think they might sell for more than the plain ones. (but I wouldn't be greedy I would just sell then all at your normal price.)

But they do look fantastic        

[orangeman]

Rolf,

 

I have heard that most walnut is steamed to get a uniform dark color.

 

bb

[rjR]

All are nicely done and look good.

 

I agree with MTCowpoke22-- I do like variations much better.