Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Principally straight grain with some cathedral figure on the flat-sawn face; features a somewhat coarse texture with semi-ring-porous arrangement and visible growth rings.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker streaks. Sapwood is a distinct creamy white to pale yellow. Color tends to lighten and become more golden over time with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable regarding decay resistance; resistant to heartwood rot but susceptible to insect attack (especially the sapwood).
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior trim, flooring, veneer, turned objects, and specialty small wood items.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and parts of Southern Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 to $18.00 per board foot depending on thickness and width; prices are higher for wider planks and figured wood.
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears recently milled or rough-cut from air/kiln-dried stock, showing contemporary saw marks and minimal oxidation, suggesting a material age of less than 2-5 years since processing.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; generally sustainable and widely available from FSC certified sources.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools. It planes, glues, and nails well. It can occasionally have tear-out with figured grain but generally finishes to a very smooth surface.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy scent when being worked. Known for excellent dimensional stability and shock resistance. Juglone in the wood can occasionally cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Finish Recommendations
Highly responsive to all finishes. Penetrating oils and waxes enhance the natural color and chatoyance; film-forming finishes like polyurethane or lacquer provide excellent protection.
Identification Confidence
High; the characteristic chocolate-brown heartwood contrasted against the pale sapwood, combined with the specific grain texture and 'fuzziness' of the rough-sawn surface, is classic for Juglans nigra.