Common Trade Name: Black walnut, Eastern Black Walnut, American black walnut, Canaletto, black hickory nut
Scientific Name: Juglans nigra
Color Range: Light brown to rich chocolate dark-brown or almost purplish-brown heartwood. It has a straight grain and may have darker brown, purple, grey, or reddish streaks. Pale yellow- gray to white sapwood with fine grain patterns.
Availability: Popular and widely available
Janka Scale Hardness: 1,010 lbf (4,490 N)
Average Weight per BF: 3.33 lbs/bdft
Common Uses: flooring, cabinetry, turning blanks, gunstocks, musical instruments or tonewood, wall paneling, shiplap paneling, wall planks, interior, and custom trim
What Is Black Walnut Lumber and Boards?
Black walnut is a prime hardwood with a hard, dense, heavy, tight-grained wood with a lustrous patina. It is one of the dominating lumbers in the furniture industry, preferred by woodworkers for its workability and elegant finish. However, unlike other hardwoods, black walnut gets lighter instead of darker as it ages.
With a Janka hardness of 1,010 pounds-force, black walnut displays excellent hardness and wear-and-tear resistance. It holds well if used as floating stair treads or commercial shelving. Black walnut boards are so durable that some studies say they can see about 150 to 400 years of life if properly maintained. These pieces are often considered for rustic projects, bringing timeless elegance into any home improvement and woodwork project.
Where Is Black Walnut Sourced From?
Walnut has a selection of species of trees growing all over the world. In the US, walnut always refers to the black walnut (Juglans nigra.) It is native to North America and thrives in the eastern and central regions.
A black walnut tree can grow to a towering height of 65 to 130 ft. Its trunk typically has a diameter of about 2 to 3 ft, and black walnut boards are often sold in a narrower width.
What To Look For When Buying Black Walnut
Its knots make black walnut more valuable in custom millwork and other projects. You will often find different black walnut lumber grades for different wood projects. For fine-grade woodwork, it is ideal to choose “Select” wood blanks and boards (Link in hardwood lumber article). These are sometimes clear with defined knots that make a more elegant finish.
Pros and Cons of Black Walnut
Black walnut is a prized hardwood that makes a sound investment, given its costly price. It has medium workability for both hand and power tools. The problem with black walnut is in planing, where its interlocking grains are difficult to master. This is prevalent in many hardwoods, and most of the time, they are better for hand sanding than the machine.
Pros
- Fine and lustrous appearance
- Strength and durability
- Shock resistant
- Water-resistance
- Workability
Cons
- Heavy
- Lighten with age
- Sapwood is prone to insect attack (powder post beetle)
- Expensive
FAQs
Why is black walnut lumber expensive?
The black walnut board and lumber prices vary according to supply, demand, and production. Lumber grades also influence the variation in prices. Black walnut is expectedly costly as a premium domestic hardwood of rare species.
Does black walnut have any smell?
Black walnut may exude a faint and mild juglone scent when being worked.
Is black walnut ideal for a charcuterie board?
Black walnut is not toxic and can be used for food items like kitchenware and charcuterie boards.
Where to Buy Black Walnut Lumber
Black walnut is popular and readily available in many areas. However, it is one of the most challenging hardwoods to identify, given its many species. Walnuts have about 21 species commercially sold as lumber and with almost identical wood identification.
You can buy black walnut lumber from trusted specialty lumber stores like Alderfer Lumber Company Inc. Alderfer has a wide array of hardwood, properly identified and sold without mixed-ups. Thus, you can ensure that you get authentic black walnut boards for the best value.
Don't hesitate to call if you want to inquire about our lumber and live edge wood slabs or send us an email to enquire about the availability of our domestic and exotic wood supplies. We have a wide selection of lumber stock we can deliver to your doorstep.
