How do I finish this wood to retain the characteristics of the butternut but still look attractive? Butternut veneer or plywood generally isn't available at retail because it is only made for the architectural trade. Butternut … Butternut works more easily than black walnut with hand and power tools because the wood ranks lower in all strength properties than its cousin. This factor also contributes to butternut's relatively high cost-about $3 per board foot for select and better. Usually 2 coats, followed by Johnson paste wax applied with a small brush. Butternut is nicknamed "white walnut" due to it's appearance as well as it's being a member of the same botanical classification "Juglans" that black walnut belongs to. Stray even a bit when installing shelf standards, and your shelves will rock maddeningly.... read more. Such damaged wood can be used for attractive projects, as long as the varmints aren't still working! And, like the hard maple, the tree was even tapped for its sweet sap, which was processed into syrup. Woodcarvers love butternut, but you’re more likely to admire their handiwork than the wood … Ever since the pioneer days, people have gathered its sweet, oily nuts with relish each fall. The alternate, frondlike leaves are 15-30" long and have as many as 17 pointed leaflets, that on the underside, are sticky to the touch. Whether you’re looking for a few pieces of premium grade hardwood for a small cabinet job or … It takes paint and stain well to produce a good finish… The tree never appears in stands, but occurs sparsely in rich, moist bottomland soils. A medium-sized tree, butternut generally grows 30-50' in height and to a trunk diameter of 1-3'. Because of this, WalzCraft strongly recommends that final decisions regarding the selection of a wood species should always be made with finished samples, even if the finish is only a Natural / Clear Coat (no stain). Early Americans also knew butternut as a dye. First, assemble all the materials needed for your door finishing … Butternut wood sometimes turns out to be wormy, the work of powder-post beetles and their larvae. Butternut Lumber. The soft, straight-grained texture makes it easy to carve and gouge without fear of cracking. Since these carvings get … At a distant glance, butternut resembles black walnut in shape, although it never grows as tall and tends to spread more. And the bark has a gray color instead of the dark brown of black walnut. I’ve found that the tung oil finish … Use a backing board under the workpiece. Two important past uses of the wood have been for church altars and for wood carvers, especially for duck decoys. The wood is straight-grained and has a fine, uniform texture. Make several shallow cuts to remove wood in stead of one deep one. Butternut glues, laser engraves well, and finishes with a nice luster. How can I keep my router bushing assembly in place? The tree never appears in stands, but occurs sparsely in rich, moist bottomland soils. I think the best finish for dining tables, especially if you are trying to achieve a natural wood look is a satin or matte (as non-shiny as you can find) polyurethane finish. Butternut is lightweight and soft compared to most other hardwoods. Maddie and I are applying the first finish type: Howard's Feed-and-Wax which combines beeswax, carnuba wax, and orange oil into a great type of finish for raw (or even previously finished) wood … Like Gene said, the wood is very soft. Butternut's coarse, straight grained wood features a light tan color and a beautiful luster. I apply the wax to help keep hand oils off. Greg Williams: Attractive is in the eye of the beholder. The kitchen was a … © 2021 Meredith Corporation. Project Ready? Butternut lumber is the latest addition to the small group of woods we inventory. You will need to test the procedure on a piece of scrap as nearly identical as possible to your work. Most all woodworkers have heard of revered and costly black walnut, even if they might not have worked it. A clear polyurethane finish will give your wood a nice protected coat. Recommended Finishing Instructions Masonite ® Interior Doors PROFESSIONALLY FINISH YOUR MASONITE DOOR SET-UP YOUR FINISHING AREA Field finishing of interior doors can be accomplished by several methods, using a variety of materials. But in prime forest conditions, it can reach 80-100' and diameters of 4', For instance, the largest butternut on the Na tional Register of Big Trees stands 88' tall. For clean cuts, rip with a rip-profile blade that has 24-32 teeth. The larger rings will be on what was the outside of the tree. You won't have any problem gluing butternut-its coarse texture draws in adhesives, ensuring a strong bond. To avoid tearing, feed wood with figured or twisted grain at a slight angle (about 15°), and take shallow cuts of about. These thin wood sheets (previously called "Scroll Saw Ready" hardwoods) are perfect for scroll sawing, laser cutting and engraving, thick veneers, and much more. Common Wood Species and Grade combinations when using a natural (no stain finish): Butternut … At 27 pounds per cubic foot air-dried, butternut weighs less than black walnut. If you want to neutralize the green, you can use a reddish dye, perhaps in the form of a thinned down NGR stain, to move the green toward a more neutral brown. We'll guide you to the right finish for your project—polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, and more—and show you how to get picture-perfect, repeatable … Rout with sharp, preferably carbide-tipped, bits and take shallow passes to avoid burning. The columns, appliqués, and corbel were maple dyed and toned to match the butternut. Butternut … The nuts drop simultaneously with the leaves in the the fall. Butternut (Juglans cinerea), alsoknown as white walnut and oil nut, grows in a northern range from southern New Brunswick in Canada to the North Carolina mountains and west to eastern Minnesota. SERVICES JOB-SITE WALKTHROUGH Have one of our experienced account managers assist you in determining the best products for your project. Butternut wood is very stable with little tendency to warp or crack in use. It is a golden brown member of the walnut family with a cathedral grain pattern that looks like waves breaking on a beach. Don't be intimidated by the finishing process. We started to carry butternut at the request of our customers who were looking for wide and matching lumber, primarily for panel stock in libraries, kitchens, etc. Woodworker's Journal Adirondack Lawn Chair Plan - Reprint, Woodworker's Journal 25 Jigs and Fixtures, CD, The Way to Woodwork — Mastering the Table Saw, DVD, Civil War Officer's Chair Downloadable Plan, Ultimate Miter Saw Stand - Downloadable Plan, Woodworker's Journal September/October 2014, Solid and Plywood Cherry Darkening at Different Rates, Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To, Order Woodworking Plans, DVDs and Supplies. Our Project Ready Butternut … Be cautious when taking deep cuts along the straight grain as the wood may pop or tear out. Shaker cabinetmakers colored it with washes of blue, green, red and yellow. It’s like putting olive oil or something similar on the wood. How do I finish this wood to retain the characteristics of the butternut but still look attractive? The finish is just a clear with brown toner to even out the color. But to avoid warp on large works, edge-join two or three pieces rather than use a single board. Saroyan maintains one of the most diverse hardwood lumber inventories West of the Mississippi. They tend to wander and cause breakout. When you do find butternut stock, the boards usually won't run extra wide or long due to the lack of large, clear logs. While the wood is wet, you'll get a good idea of how it will look with just a clear finish … Butternut trees produce oblong nuts with thick, leathery husks and sweet, oily kernels that squirrels love. … Wet a section of the wood with some mineral spirits/paint thinner or naphtha (or any of the other petroleum distillates). Kiln-drying usually solves any potential problems, and a thoroughly applied, tough finish guarantee's any survivors' demise, but it pays to closely observe all wormy wood for pests before buying. Stained, it imitates walnut in furniture and paneling. Avoid drilling with twist drills. Also, keep these other tips in mind: The coarse grain of butternut, and its softness, requires sharp tools. light-colored wood like maple to avoid the “yellowing” that occurs with traditional shellac and varnish finishes. On the other hand, butternut. Butternut's softness makes it more susceptible to nicks and dents as you work the wood. It's also softer, less durable, and not as strong. Also known as white walnut, butternut takes dyes and stains well and has a fairly pronounced pore structure that you can accentuate with pore filler or glaze if you like. Even wormy butternut, which turns up on occasion, may prove worthy for use in certain projects, such as relief carvings or boxes. Although oil finishes prove popular on butternut carvings, you can improve the wood's natural luster by first burnishing it (rubbing the wood with the back of a spoon, gouge, or glass bottle to compact the surface of the fibers for more sheen). The butternut I am using is yellowish and has a green tint in places. mistake butternut for another wood. Workability: Butternut is easily worked with both hand and machine tools. Greg Williams: Attractive is … But the rich tan wood may look best with a more natural clear finish. Where it's plentiful, the wood becomes cabinets, molding, boxes, and crates. Butternut (Juglans cinerea), alsoknown as white walnut and oil nut, grows in a northern range from southern New Brunswick in Canada to the North Carolina mountains and west to eastern Minnesota. The butternut I am using is yellowish and has a green tint in places. At one time it was considered “the poor man’s walnut”, butternut is Butternut wood dries slowly with little degradation. We will even “Job Quote” volume orders backed by our … Choose a clear finish that has a level of gloss you want for your wood. I’ve actually had wax finishes on dining room tables in the past, but they are high maintenance and very difficult to keep looking good, especially on the top of the table. In stability, the two are equal. COMMENTS: Excellent carving wood… USES: High-class and utility joinery, interior trim, cabinet fitments, furniture, boxes, crates, veneer, paneling. If you get a glossy finish, your wood will have more of a sheen or glow than a finish with less gloss. Although black walnut dust can irritate the eyes, butternut doesn't have that tendency. WORKING PROPERTIES Aspen does not split when nailed, it machines easily with a slightly fuzzy surface, and turns, bores, and sands well. But in prime forest conditions, it can reach 80-100' and diameters … That's a plus, but also a caution. In a relief carving, carve the sapwood side of the board to reduce any tendency for it to warp or cup. Butternut Butternut ladle (Image: inlandcoast) This wood is also called white walnut or oil nut. Any exceptions, and special tips pertaining to this issue's featured wood species, appear under headings elsewhere on this page. For best results, turn butternut at a lathe speed of 800-1,000 rpm. Always finish-sand with the grain; butternut often exhibits cross-grain scratches when sanded improperly. Formbys Low Gloss Tung Oil Finish – Top Finish Option for Wood Tung Oil is another classic oil that protects the finish of the wood without hiding the natural grain. The vibrant, tan color of butternut wood makes it ideal for beginners in carving. BUTTERNUT WOOD Butternut is one of North America’s most beautiful timbers. Although butternut is a hardwood, it is relatively soft making butternut wood a favorite with carvers.