Originally Posted by keith
Originally Posted by SKB
Originally Posted by keith
Woodworkers find that Black Walnut is (usually) the easiest walnut species to bend.

That has not been my experience, I find English or thin shell bends easier.

Not at all surprising that Princess SKB Stevie would contradict me. But he/she is actually contradicting woodworkers with lots of actual experience, as well as lumber experts and botanists who understand that Black Walnut is typically easier to bend because the wood has longer fibers than other walnut species.

However, Princess Stevie has also shown us that he/she was totally unable to tell the difference between a blank of feather crotch black walnut, and a finished stock of thin shell walnut. Even when I specifically pointed out the glaring differences, Princess Stevie insisted they were both from the same piece of wood. So who really knows what species of walnut Princess Stevie has bent, or whether it was actually bent by an employee or sub-contractor???

Here's an old Thread that shows Princess Stevie has a lot to learn about walnut:

Total Stock Blank Transformation: How is it Done???

And another old Thread with Princess Stevie actually admitting being wrong about two distinctly different species of walnut that a blind man could tell apart:

https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ub...;Main=44830&Number=562916#Post562916

SKB is correct.

If you know the name Mike Orlen he routinely bends stocks. I've talked to him and he has always said Black Walnut bends poorly. All the thin shell walnuts bend better as long as the grain flow is good at the wrist. Dan Rossiter the lead stockmaker at G&H bends stocks as well. Some take the bend and some spring back. There is a specific temperature the stock hits where they will bend with fingertrip pressure and once the bend is where you want then you lock them down in the vise and let them cool overnight. It is not without drawbacks. I have had 3 bent and one did break and is in the process of being restocked now. One had to be rebent a second time because of springback.

PS. I've watched folks do it with heat lamps. I find it quite an interesting process.


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