Question about sap wood

[Eric Johnson]

Photo posted on a.b.p.w I picked up these book matched slabs from a new sawmill for a conference table I've been commissioned to build and was asked an unusual question about his kilning process. He asked me if I was not concerned that the wood was not steamed which is something I've never heard of. He said some bigger outfits steam the wood and then the heartwood color bleeds to the sap wood producing one solid color throughout the entire board. so my question is this; How do you tell if a board has been steamed and what affect if any could it have on the outcome of a project?

Thanks, EJ

[Jamien]

Without looking at the pics I assume they are walnut or cherry. Almost all large drying outfits steam the walnut and cherry. Steaming does just what the man said, except it doesn't completely eliminate the difference between the sap and the heart. It leaves the sapwood a dirty yellow color. Mills do this so they can sell the sapwood at the same price as the heart and not defect it out as they do with other hardwoods. Some people like the contrasting wood colors, I do not. I do not like steamed walnut because it bleeds the other colors out of the heartwood also, leaving a muddy, monotone color to the heartwood. I dry my own walnut for my rockers and cut out the sapwood. Steaming has no effect on the outcome except for the appearance.

Jamie

Eric Johns> Photo posted on a.b.p.w

[Eric Johnson]

Normally I cut it out as well but the customer particularly liked the figuring. It definitely made joinery more difficult. Kinda like a piece of balsa wood sandwiched in there. So in the future I'm looking for muddy/mottled color? I also think this is an indication the this new sawyer is a stand up guy.

Thanks, EJ