GPEMS

American Black Walnut

Description

American Black Walnut is a finely grained timber, often with attractive swirls and wave patterning, generally used in high-end cabinet and furniture making, carving and turning.
Botanical Name: uglans nigra
Preferred Common Names:
American Black Walnut American Walnut, Black Walnut, Virginia Walnut, Canaletto, Black Hickory Nut
Species Type Hardwood ,
Appearance
American Black Walnut heartwood ranges from light to dark chocolate brown in colour, sometimes with narrow streaks with a purplish or darker brown tone. In comparison, sapwood is a distinctive creamy white. Black Walnut is a finely grained timber, often with attractive swirls and wave patterning, especially around knotty areas. The heartwood lightens in colour as it ages, especially when it is exposed to UV light.
Common Applications
American Black Walnut is an exceptional cabinet and furniture making timber due to its attractive appearance. The timber is also used for doors, flooring, joinery, mouldings and turnings. In Australia, Black Walnut is typically available as a veneer and used for paneling and cabinetry.
Common Form Veneer
Workability
American Black Walnut performs well with both machine and hand tools, and takes a very high polish. It is an excellent timber for carving and turning and is suitable for steam bending. It glues satisfactorily if conditions are carefully controlled. Black Walnut also has good dimensional stability.
Origin of Timber: North America
Readily Available
NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, QLD, WA
In Australia, commercial availability of American Black Walnut timber products is generally limited to the upper grades, in which knots and sapwood commonly occur. In Australia Black Walnut is most commonly available as a veneer.