American Walnut, primarily from the Juglans nigra or black walnut tree, is a prized domestic hardwood known for its rich, dark color, beautiful grain, and excellent workability. It is widely used in high-end furniture, cabinetry, and architectural applications due to its appealing aesthetics and durability.
Physical Properties
- Color and Appearance: The heartwood ranges from light brown to a deep, rich chocolate brown and can sometimes have dark, even purplish, streaks. The sapwood is a contrasting creamy white. Most commercial lumber is steam-treated to blend the sapwood color with the heartwood. The wood develops a lustrous patina and tends to lighten slightly over time with exposure to light, unlike other woods that darken.
- Grain and Texture: It generally features a straight grain, though it can sometimes be wavy or curly, which produces attractive and sought-after figures like burls and crotches. The texture is typically coarse but uniform.
- Density and Hardness: American Walnut is a tough hardwood of medium density, with an average dry weight of about 38 lbs/ft³ (610 kg/m³). Its Janka hardness rating is approximately 1,010 lbf (4,490 N), making it durable enough for flooring yet easier to work with than harder woods like oak or maple.
Workability and Durability
- Workability: American Walnut is highly valued by woodworkers for being easy to work with using both hand and machine tools. It planes, turns, and molds exceptionally well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained and polished to an excellent finish.
- Drying and Stability: The wood dries slowly, and care must be taken during the kiln-drying process to avoid defects like honeycombing. Once dry, it has good dimensional stability, resisting warping and shrinking.
- Durability: The heartwood is rated as very resistant to decay and is one of the most durable American hardwoods, even under conditions favorable to rot. The sapwood, however, is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
- American Walnut’s unique combination of beauty and functionality makes it suitable for numerous high-end applications:Fine Furniture: Widely used for dining tables, chairs, cabinets, and dressers.
- Architectural Millwork: Employed for interior paneling, doors, and trim.
- Flooring: A popular choice for both solid and engineered hardwood flooring.
- Specialty Items: Used for gunstocks, musical instruments (guitars), sculptures, and kitchenware like cutting boards.
- Veneer: Due to its value, high-quality walnut is often used for decorative veneers in cabinets and luxury car interiors.