Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight but can be irregular; featured here with a knot and visible cathedral grain patterns. The texture is medium and the grain is semi-porous.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a light pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Color tends to lighten over time with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable; very resistant to heartwood decay, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack (evident by the bore holes in this sample).
Common Uses
Furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned objects, and novelty items.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $15.00 per board foot depending on width and grade.
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears to be freshly milled or surface-planed lumber, though the presence of extensive insect damage and powderpost beetle holes suggests it may have been air-dried or salvaged from older stock.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally sustainable.
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It planes and glues well, though the large sapwood-to-heartwood contrast can be difficult to match. The dust can be a mild sensitizer.
Notable Features
Distinctive faint, mild odor when being worked. Contains juglone, which can be toxic to certain plants and irritating to horses if used as bedding.
Finish Recommendations
Takes finishes extremely well. Oil-based finishes (tung or linseed) are recommended to enhance the deep brown tones and natural luster.
Identification Confidence
High; the chocolate brown heartwood transitions, characteristic knot structure, and distinct sapwood/heartwood boundary are diagnostic of Juglans nigra.