American Black Walnut

Specification

American Black Walnut is a favoured wood for using in contrast with lighter coloured timbers.

Appearance

  • Colour – The sapwood of walnut is creamy white, while the heartwood is light brown to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with a purplish cast and darker streaks. Walnut is usually supplied steamed, which darkens the sapwood, but a very unique look can also be achieved by leaving it natural. The dark heartwood will lighten in colour as it ages overtime with exposure to UV light.
  • Grain – Generally straight grained but sometimes with wavy or curly grain that produces an attractive and decorative figure.
  • Texture – It has a coarse texture.

Characteristics

  • Strength – American Black Walnut has a moderate crushing strength and low stiffness.
  • Natural Durability – Resistance to insect and fungal attack reported to be very good.
  • Ease Of Drying – American Black Walnut performs best when dried slowly, reducing the opportunity for degrade.
  • Preservative Treatment – The heartwood is very resistant to preservative treatments and biodegradation

Working Properties

  • Sawing – Good
  • Planing – Excellent
  • Drilling – Good
  • Boring – Good
  • Turning – Excellent
  • Carving – Good

 

  • Moulding – Excellent
  • Nailing – Good
  • Screwing – Good
  • Gluing – Good
  • Steam Bending – Good

Finishing

  • It holds paints and stains very well and can be polished to an exceptional finish.