Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight to irregular, often featuring cathedral grain when flat-sawn; some pieces exhibit figured patterns such as crotch, curly, or burl in transitional areas.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from light greyish-brown to dark chocolate brown with darker streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Color often lightens or yellows over time if exposed to intense UV rays.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium Hardness)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable; heartwood is highly resistant to decay and rot, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, musical instruments (mostly guitars), and luxury flooring.
Geographic Origin
Eastern and Central United States and Southern Ontario, Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 to $18.00 per board foot for kiln-dried lumber, significantly higher for figured or extra-wide slabs.
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears to be from a limb or a small tree approximately 15-25 years old, based on the deeply furrowed, ridged bark texture typical of maturing walnut.
Sustainability Status
Not CITES listed; classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though populations in some areas are monitored due to Thousand Cankers Disease.
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It planes and glues well, and takes a high polish. Steam-bends remarkably well.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy scent when worked. Contains juglone, which can be an irritant to some individuals and toxic to horses and certain plants.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based finishes (tung oil or linseed oil) and polyurethane are excellent for enhancing depth and grain. Avoid heavy stains that mask the natural chocolate color.
Identification Confidence
High; the deeply furrowed, diamond-shaped patterns in the corky bark, combined with the visible chocolate-brown wood peeking through the edges, are characteristic of Juglans nigra.