Drying wood, your thoughts please.

[Fox Fire]

Found me a big ol black walnut limb yesterday, probaly about 20 feet long, big end mite go 18 inches or so, little end about 7 or 8, has several bends & twist also a few places where limbs grew off of it, hate to see it cut up for fire wood & the gent said I could have what I wanted of it.

I have several projects in mind if its fit to use, if I can find some fit'n wood with some charicter in it I would love to have a gun stock built for my .22 squirrel rifle, a nice handle for a long bow & of course pieces for a few calls.

I guess the first thing I need to ask is could the wood in a limb even be used for anything, what would be the smartest way to cut it up for drying,and...what about kiln drying the wood ??

Thanks in advance, figured you gents would have some food for thought on this.

[VanHelden Game Calls]

Generally limbs don't yield much for heartwood, you will get some though. I doubt you will find much for character but you never know, if you can get ahold of the crotch you will find better figure. 

Kiln dry works, air dry works but will take year(s). 

Not sure you will find a pc large enough for a gunstock, but you will get enough for small items.   If it doesnt work you can always burn it

[Fox Fire]

Thanks for the food for thought, I was also curious if the wood in the limb had anything to offer, mite not be worth the trouble of cut'n up after all.

Thanks

FF

[timberjack86]

Fox fire I can put you in plenty of wood when this weather clears.

[pappy]

don't be surprised when you cut into the walnut you will see a lot of straight grain...which is not too bad for other types of calls. Kiln drying walnut sometimes effects the woods resonating qualities, that is why you see a lot of custom call makers use air dried walnut in their calls. But for the bow handles and such that should do you for that. 

[Old Gobbler]

Neil Cost told me to always use air dried wood - this was in reference to box calls at the time