kiln dried walnut slabs
kiln dried walnut slabs
I received a call early yesterday morning from my friends at C-Wood lumber, just across the state line in Collinwood Tennessee. Some of my walnut slab end cuts just came out of the kiln, and they were in the way. I'm pretty sure that my organic lumber (if we can really call it that) has been a complete nuisance to this outfit, and this is probably among the worst of it.
Four years ago, as we were milling this natural edge lumber - actually a lot of it. And there was an amazing amount that is typically spoilage - to be burned or tossed. Although I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, the beefiest of the lot - of end cuts, we saved, stacked, air dried, and just now it spent a 6 weeks in the kiln.
I'm sure most of it will become firewood, but there is a good bit of beautiful, almost too organic material, that I'm looking forward to getting my hands on.
In the pic above, 20 year veteran at c-wood lumber, the kiln operator/manager poses with our "pieces". Ok, one more quick story. (I'm the worst with names), but it's amazing where I find creative people. She asked what I was going to do with these unusual pieces. I replied honestly that I didn't know. She said "you really just work with each piece and let it reveal it's natural beauty don't you??" I was shocked that this C-wood operator understood more about the creative process that most (by far). I asked if she was an artists, and yes she is. She paints, but her favorite medium in leather. I look forward to seeing her work. But first, I better get my friends name.
One more comment; What C-Wood lumber has typically dried in their kiln is pictured in the back. Straight cut, typically oak and poplar. And their operation is all set up for this. They stack their "stacks" 4' high. They can easily stack several stacks on top of one another. Easy to get off the truck, into their sorting, cutting equipment, into their kiln, and back out and on the truck to be shipped back (often internationally).
My slabs don't fit into their system. And, although they all seem curious about what I do with it, as stacks fall to the ground, and as they try to figure out how to kiln dry it and get it the heck out of there, I don't think the name Robin Wade is one of their favorite words or visitors
I look forward to writing more about this unique small Tennessee community, they seems to receive most if not all of their income from the lumber, and hardwood industry..
