Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight to irregular grain with a distinct cathedral figure visible in the flat-sawn face; medium texture with semi-ring-porous structure.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from light to dark chocolate brown with darker streaks; sapwood is pale yellowish-gray. Luster is moderate, becoming more lustrous with finish; darkens and yellows slightly with age.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
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, flooring, and specialty turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and Southern Ontario, Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 to $18.00 per board foot depending on thickness and width.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly milled to recently seasoned; shows minimal oxidation and rough-sawn surface marks typical of modern lumber yard stock.
Sustainability Status
Abundant and sustainable; not CITES listed; widely available as FSC certified.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools; glues, stains, and finishes very well; can be prone to tearout in areas of irregular grain.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy scent when worked; contains juglone (a mild toxin to some plants); known for exceptional dimensional stability once seasoned.
Finish Recommendations
Responds beautifully to oil-based finishes (boiled linseed oil or tung oil) to enhance depth; clear lacquer or polyurethane for durability; avoid heavy stains to preserve natural character.
Identification Confidence
High; the chocolate brown heartwood transition to pale sapwood, coupled with the specific cathedral grain pattern and semi-ring-porous texture, are characteristic of Juglans nigra.