Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight but with characteristic cathedral patterns and some wavy figure around small knots. This sample is flat-sawn, showing prominent growth ring curves.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a light pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Sapwood is a pale yellowish-gray to nearly white. This sample exhibits typical air-dried or kiln-dried walnut tones, which will lighten or golded over time with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable regarding decay resistance, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior trim, flooring, veneer, and turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and parts of Southern Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 to $16.00 per board foot depending on width, grade, and local availability.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly milled or recently surfaced stock (less than 1-2 years since processing) based on the lack of deep oxidation and the visible rough mill marks/tearout.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable in North America.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools. It glues, stains, and finishes very well, though the knots shown in the image can cause localized tearout during planing.
Notable Features
Features a faint, characteristic mildly spicy scent when worked. Known for its moderate weight and excellent dimensional stability once dried.
Finish Recommendations
Responds beautifully to oil-based finishes (tung oil, Danish oil) which deepen the chocolate tones. Polyurethane or lacquer are recommended for high-wear surfaces like tables.
Identification Confidence
High. The color transition between the dark heartwood and light sapwood, coupled with the distinctive cathedral grain and pore structure, is highly characteristic of Juglans nigra.