Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight, but can be irregular or wavy; logs often show crotch figure and burls with ring-porous cathedral patterns when milled.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from light to dark chocolate brown; sapwood is pale semi-white to yellow. Color darkens slightly with age but can fade if exposed to UV.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
Furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned objects, and specialty small wood items.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and Southern Ontario, Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$8.00 - $15.00 per board foot (milled)
Wood Age Estimate
The logs appear to be from a mature tree approximately 40-60 years old; the cut surfaces show moderate oxidation and weathering from outdoor storage.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; widely available and sustainable.
Workability
Excellent with both hand and machine tools. Planes well, glues, stains, and finishes easily. Heartwood has a characteristic mild spicy scent when worked.
Notable Features
Distinctive dark heartwood, juglone content which is a natural herbicidal toxin, and excellent dimensional stability once dried.
Finish Recommendations
Danish oil or polyurethane to highlight the deep browns; clear coats are preferred to maintain the natural contrast between heart and sapwood.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of very dark heartwood, light sapwood ring, and the deeply furrowed, dark, diamond-patterned bark are characteristic of Black Walnut.