American Black Walnut [Juglans nigra] is the most respected of North America's fine hardwoods.

Handsomely finished walnut furniture, interiors, flooring, gunstock blanks, and other wood products with the warm rich walnut color blanks, are found in applications all around the world. Walnut has always been in high demand.

Walnut's qualities have earned the respect of fine craftsmen since the 16th Century. The American Black Walnut is native to North America, and is known as the "aristocrat of the fine hardwoods".

Black Walnut grows naturally over most of the eastern half of the United States. In the Central and Midwestern regions of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and the surrounding States, walnut matures very well as part of the even-aged hardwood stand, and in scattered groves.

General Description

The sapwood of walnut is creamy white, while the heart wood is light to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with a purplish cast and darker streaks. Walnut can be steamed, to darken sapwood,or left unsteamed. The wood is generally straight grained, but may contain a curly grain that produces an attractive and decorative figure.

Working Properties

Walnut works easily with hand and machine tools. It holds paint and stain very well and can be polished to an exceptional finish.

It dries slowly, and care is needed to avoid kiln degrade.Walnut has good dimensional stability.

Physical Properties

Walnut is of medium density, with moderate bending and low stiffness. It has good dimensional stability.

Durability

Rated as very resistant to heartwood decay, it is one of the most durable hardwoods even under conditions favorable to decay.