Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a moderate, semi-ring-porous texture. Displays a soft cathedral figure on the face grain with occasional small pin knots and swirling near structural transitions.
Color Description
Heartwood is a creamy, chocolatey brown with occasional purplish-gray streaks. Sapwood is typically pale yellowish-gray. This sample shows the characteristic darkening that occurs when the wood is kiln-dried or steamed, producing a more uniform, muted tan-brown.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium Hardness)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned items, and musical instruments.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$12.00 to $18.00 per board foot depending on width and grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Recently milled (less than 5 years old) based on the lack of deep oxidation and the presence of light surface planer marks/scuffing.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable within its native range.
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, provided cutters are sharp. It glues, stains, and finishes exceptionally well, though it can have some grain tearout during planing if interlocked.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy scent when being worked. Known for its excellent dimensional stability and shock resistance.
Finish Recommendations
Best suited for oils (boiled linseed, tung) or clear polyurethane to enhance the natural depth of the grain. Shellac is also an excellent traditional primer.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of chocolate-brown hues, semi-ring-porous pore structure, and characteristic cathedral grain patterns is diagnostic for Black Walnut.