I've got some Claro Walnut stock that is pretty; it came out of a fiddleback Claro Walnut billet. Does an all Walnut striker work, or would you pair it with a striker tip of another material?
I have had walnut that sounds great and walnut that wasn't worth the time it took to turn the striker. Local grown walnut is great. Walnut I have bought from Illinois was steamed to even the color of the wood. That stuff wasn't worth a flip. If it seems to be fairly dense, it should do well.
A word of caution - Look closely at the grain. If one end of the blank appears to have straighter grain, use that end for the peg portion of the striker. Use the end that has more figure for the thicker, weighted end of the striker. As you turn figured grain down to the thinner diameter, it becomes less stable. With grain that twists and turns, the grain length is shorter (does that make sense) and is much easier to snap.
Good luck.
I just finished turning four strikers from walnut. I really like using it as strikers. Give it a try.
never heard one or made one that was at best good..........
Been hit or miss here as well. I have finally called it quits as there are so many great woods out there to use.
That said they make nice striker heads for 2 pc calls.
I like other wood better for strikers I just don`t think it is dense enough for strikers.I like dymond wood Purple Heart and Hickory better.
I had a DD Adams all walnut striker I lost on a fall hunt. It was, up to that time, my go-to striker.
Miss that one.
Hard, straight grained walnut makes a great striker. Soft, or steamed walnut, really sucks.