Black Walnut

Scientific Name:

Juglans nigra

Other Names and Species:

American Walnut
Black hickory nut
Canadian walnut
Canaletto
Burbank Walnut
Eastern Black Walnut
Eastern Walnut
Gunwood
North American Walnut
Virginia Walnut
Walnut tree

Black walnut, Juglans nigra, may also be known as eastern black walnut or American walnut, is a tree species native to eastern North America. It grows generally beside rivers, from southern Ontario, Canada west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and south-west to central Texas. The tree once grew extravagantly in the eastern bottom forests, where the soil was deep and rich. Trees 150 feet tall with 50-foot clear stems and 6-foot diameters weren’t rare.

Weight:
Average weight is 40 pounds per cubic foot.

General characteristics:
Walnut is a sturdy and hard wood. Works substantially with machine and hand tools. Has generally straight grain and is sometimes coarse. Nails and holds screws well. Glues well. Finishes well. Can be polished to high sheen.

Working Properties:
For machining purposes, black walnut is rated hard, stiff, very resistant to shock and suitable for steam bending. It has an inherent oily nature and will cut cleanly and finish beautifully.

The machining qualities of walnut are excellent, but it is also easily worked with hand tools. This wood has a distinctive sweet aroma when worked. It is fairly resistant to splitting and has good holding ability. It sands and finishes beautifully and holds both paint and stain exceptionally well.

Drying and Shrinkage:
Black walnut reported loses moisture very slowly during air drying and seasons at a slow rate. Kiln drying is also a slow process with American black walnut, recommended schedule is T6 – D4 (4/4); T3 – D3 (8/4) US. For shrinkage data see below:

Durability:
American Black Walnut resistance to insects and fungal attacks is reported to be very good.

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