Sw

"SouthForkSam"

12/05/2005 8:32 AM

Suitability of Black Walnut for marine trim applications.

How well will black walnut work as cabinet tops, trim, and gunwales in
a boat? It will be covered in epoxy and then coated with several coats
of high gloss UV blocking varnish, but I am interested in knowing if it
is resistant to rot and such.

Thanks!


This topic has 8 replies

Sw

"SouthForkSam"

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

13/05/2005 7:45 AM

Should I worry that Black Walnut is only 1010 on the Janka hardness
scale where White Oak is 1300 and something?

Maybe I should just use Purple Heart or Padauk (both higher on the
hardness scale than white oak)...... but I really am leaning towards
the color of the walnut. I can already see the dark brown, brightworked
gunwale contrasting against an ivory paint on the outer hull.

Sw

"SouthForkSam"

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

14/05/2005 7:09 AM

As the boat I am working on is a drift boat the gunwales may see some
abuse. I want a fairly tough wood with good shock resistance.

Pp

Philski

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

12/05/2005 9:42 AM

SouthForkSam wrote:
> How well will black walnut work as cabinet tops, trim, and gunwales in
> a boat? It will be covered in epoxy and then coated with several coats
> of high gloss UV blocking varnish, but I am interested in knowing if it
> is resistant to rot and such.
>
> Thanks!
>
I would think it would have similar properties as mahogany. And UV
protection will be the same. They have used walnut in boats and boat
trimming for many years.

Here is a page to view:

http://www.classicboat.com/id-28custom-runabout-1929-1931.htm

Try a google with "walnut" "wooden boat" "marine" and see what happens...

Philski

TD

"Tom Dacon"

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

12/05/2005 6:50 PM

For what it's worth, there's an old maritime superstition that black walnut
is unlucky on boats.

Tom Dacon

"SouthForkSam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> How well will black walnut work as cabinet tops, trim, and gunwales in
> a boat? It will be covered in epoxy and then coated with several coats
> of high gloss UV blocking varnish, but I am interested in knowing if it
> is resistant to rot and such.
>
> Thanks!
>

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

13/05/2005 11:26 PM


"SouthForkSam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Should I worry that Black Walnut is only 1010 on the Janka hardness
> scale where White Oak is 1300 and something?
>

Hardness is not an indicator of rot resistance. I'm sure cedar and cypress
come in much lower but have good resistance.

HP

Hax Planx

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

12/05/2005 8:52 PM

Dave W says...

> Gunwales and cabinet trim are pretty far apart. Usually, one wants a hard
> tough wood like oak for gunwales and a nicely finished wood likecherry,
> walnut, teak or mahogany for cabinet trim. I believe that black walnut is
> not particularly rot resistant.
> Dave

Walnut is hard, tough and very resistant to decay. See
http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/HardwoodNA/htmlDocs/juglans2.html

HP

Hax Planx

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

13/05/2005 6:44 PM

SouthForkSam says...

> Should I worry that Black Walnut is only 1010 on the Janka hardness
> scale where White Oak is 1300 and something?
>
> Maybe I should just use Purple Heart or Padauk (both higher on the
> hardness scale than white oak)...... but I really am leaning towards
> the color of the walnut. I can already see the dark brown, brightworked
> gunwale contrasting against an ivory paint on the outer hull.

I'm not a boat builder, but it doesn't seem like a big deal considering
the application and considering you are going to put some tough finishes
on it. You could use Jatoba as well. Very hard and durable and it has
a nice color.

DW

"Dave W"

in reply to "SouthForkSam" on 12/05/2005 8:32 AM

12/05/2005 4:32 PM

Gunwales and cabinet trim are pretty far apart. Usually, one wants a hard
tough wood like oak for gunwales and a nicely finished wood likecherry,
walnut, teak or mahogany for cabinet trim. I believe that black walnut is
not particularly rot resistant.
Dave
"SouthForkSam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> How well will black walnut work as cabinet tops, trim, and gunwales in
> a boat? It will be covered in epoxy and then coated with several coats
> of high gloss UV blocking varnish, but I am interested in knowing if it
> is resistant to rot and such.
>
> Thanks!
>


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