Evaluating Quality of Black Walnut Sawlogs

Although American black walnut is our highest priced native wood, the walnut industry has had access to very little information on the fundamental relationships between sawlog quality and standard walnut lumber yield. This study, conducted in cooperation with a commercial walnut mill, should enable timber growers and processors to buy and sell walnut with mutual understanding of its value. The study centers around a 6-foot, left-hand band mill and a 14-foot cable-driven electrically-powered carriage equipped with air-operated dogs. Logs are turned with an air-operated turner. Additional facilities include a trimmer, an edger, a steaming shed, and a dry kiln. The 576-log sample contained an excellent distribution of diameters and lengths. Each log was numbered and sketched to show all visible characteristics on its surface and ends. The value of each log expressed as a quality index was then computed on the basis of sawed lumber volume, thickness, and grade. Analyses are given of log diameter, lumber thickness and lumber grade, quality class and lumber grade. Rules are given for a log grading system. The specifications developed are practical-and accurate for small groups of logs, and are easy to learn and easy to apply.

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