Specs
- Common Names
- Black Walnut
- Scientific Name
- Juglans nigra
- Origin
- Eastern United States
- Appearance
- Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a grey, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Figured grain patterns such as curl, crotch, and burl are also seen. Grain is usually straight, but can be irregular. Has a medium texture and moderate natural luster. Endgrain: Semi-ring-porous; large earlywood pores grading to medium latewood pores, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses occasionally to abundantly present; growth rings distinct; medium rays barely visible without lens, normal spacing; parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates (sometimes very faint and barely visible even with lens) and banded (marginal).
- Janka Hardness
- 1010 lbf
- Modulus of Rupture
- 14,600 lbf/in2 (100.7 MPa)
- Elastic Modulus
- 1,680,000 lbf/in2 (11.59 GPa)
- Crushing Strength
- 7,580 lbf/in2 (52.3 MPa)
- Shrinkage
- Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 12.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.4
- Durability
- Black Walnut is rated as very durable in terms of decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack.
- Workability
- Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular. Planer tearout can sometimes be a problem when surfacing pieces with irregular or figured grain. Glues, stains, and finishes well, (though walnut is rarely stained). Responds well to steam bending.
