Latin Name: Juglans nigra

A major characteristic of Black Walnut is its dark deeply furrowed bark which appears divided into squarish units.
Black Walnut range from 70 - 150 feet in height and 2-4 feet in diameter. Produces a tasty nut enclosed in a hard shell encased in a smooth green husk.
Beware, many things do not grow near a black walnut tree due to a toxic substance exuded from its roots. However, they are useful in a pasture because few, if any, insects will follow stock under their branches.

Color: A beautiful brown heartwood with a white sapwood.
Properties: A moderately hard, durable wood with good density (specific gravity is .56), strength, and rot resistance.

Among the finest native hardwoods, highly desirable for furniture. Produces wonderful veneers, especially noted for its brilliant crotch and burl figures. But perhaps most renowned and coveted for its use by gun stock makers. Walnut carves well and is a good turning wood. It works well with hand or machine tools although special care needs to be given to the feather-like crotch figure, to the wild figure around knots, and to the swirling birdseye patterns of a burl. With these dramatic figures, hand scraping is often required but the rewards are worth the effort. An amber tinted stain or finish like orange shellac or varnish will add warmth to the naturally cool brown color. A filler is also needed to level the open grain pores. Unlike other popular furniture woods like mahogany and cherry which darken over time, black walnut lightens with age, mellowing like fine wine to a rich honey-tone brown patina.

All combined, for its density, workability, friendliness to carving, brilliant figure options, and receptivity to a beautiful finish it is no wonder black walnut is so desired by furniture and gun stock makers. It may come as a surprise that it costs often the same or less than often compared mahogany and cherry. However as a final word of caution, assume walnut shavings are never to be used in your favorite pet's cage and they certainly won't be appreciated by your neighbors horses because many animals experience an allergic reaction to this wood.

Tom McLaughlin