Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight, but can be irregular; often features a medium texture and moderate natural luster with a somewhat open grain
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. It tends to lighten over time with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; heartwood is highly resistant to decay, though susceptible to insect attack
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned items, and small specialty wood objects
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and parts of Southern Canada
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$12.00 - $18.00 per board foot depending on figure and width
Wood Age Estimate
Modern cut, likely aged less than 5 years based on sharp mechanized edges and lack of significant surface oxidation or microbial staining
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; generally considered sustainable and widely available in North America
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools; glues, stains, and finishes well, though it can occasionally produce tearout if grain is irregular
Notable Features
Distinctive faint, mild odor when being worked; known for excellent dimensional stability and shock resistance
Finish Recommendations
Responds excellently to oil-based finishes (tung oil, Danish oil) which enhance the depth of the dark heartwood; also works well with lacquer and polyurethane
Identification Confidence
High; the characteristic chocolate-brown color, semi-porous grain structure, and visible longitudinal streaks are definitive markers of North American Black Walnut.