Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Generally straight with some wavy figure; cathedral patterns present in flat-sawn sections with semi-porous texture
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from light grey-brown to dark chocolate brown with darker streaks; sapwood is pale yellow-grey. Tends to lighten and become more golden with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though susceptible to insect attack (sapwood)
Common Uses
Fine furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned objects, and small specialty wood items
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $18.00 per board foot depending on figure and grade
Wood Age Estimate
Indeterminate from image; however, the oxidation and dark streaking suggests a seasoned sample, not freshly milled
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable in North America
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools; glues, stains, and finishes well, though it can occasionally produce tearout on figured grain
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy scent when being worked; faint natural luster; contains faint tannins that can react with iron to form dark stains
Finish Recommendations
Danish oil, lacquer, or polyurethane to enhance the deep brown tones; shellac is also excellent for bringing out chatoyance
Identification Confidence
Medium; the dark streaking, chocolate brown hue, and diffuse-porous grain visible in the blurry macro shot are highly characteristic of Juglans nigra, though the image quality limits structural confirmation