Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight but can be irregular; featured here with a wavy and slightly interlocked pattern showing cathedral arches indicative of flat-sawn lumber.
Color Description
The heartwood is light to dark chocolate brown, showing greyish-tan tones due to oxidation/fading. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray. It tends to lighten and turn more yellow/golden with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though susceptible to insect attack (sapwood).
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, interior paneling, gunstocks, veneer, turned objects, and specialty small wood items.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and parts of Eastern Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$8.00 to $15.00 per board foot for Select and Better grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Based on the grey-brown oxidation and surface sheen, the piece appears to be 20-40 years old, likely salvaged or used in a piece of mid-to-late 20th-century furniture.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in the 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 planes, turns, and glues well. The grain can occasionally tear out if interlocked, and it has a faint, characteristic odor when worked.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild spicy scent while being worked; contains juglone which can be an allergen; known for its high shock resistance and dimensional stability.
Finish Recommendations
Penetrating oils or drying oils (Tung/Linseed) to pop the grain; polyurethane or lacquer for durability. Avoid heavy stains as they mask the natural beauty of the walnut.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of the chocolate-grey color palette, the specific cathedral grain structure, and the apparent texture is highly characteristic of North American Black Walnut.