The Walnut Family

african-walnut-sAfrican Walnut

Scientific Name: Lovoa trichilioides
Location: West Tropical Africa
Dried Weight: 34lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 940lbf
Crushing Strength: 6,700lbf /in2

African Walnut has a heartwood with a pale brown to chocolate brown color with darker brown streaks. Sometimes it has a grey, purple, or reddish cast. The sapwood is a pale yellow-grey to nearly white color. The grain is straight, but can be irregular and it has a medium texture. The wood gives off a moderate lustre. The end grain is semi-ring-porous. African Walnut is rated as very durable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well. It also responds well to steam bending.

 

black-walnutBlack Walnut

Scientific Name: Juglans nigra
Location: Eastern USA
Dried Weight: 38lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 1,000lbf
Crushing Strength: 7,580lbf /in2

Black Walnut has a heartwood which is golden yellow to a reddish brown color, sometimes with darker streaks and veins. The wood darkens upon exposure to light and with age. The sapwood is a medium yellow to light grey color. The grain is slightly interlocked, sometimes straight, and it has a medium uniform texture. The wood gives off a high natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. It is rated as moderately durable in regards to decay. The wood is easy to work with and turns, glues, and finishes well.

 

claro-walnut-wtClaro Walnut

Scientific Name: Juglans hindsii, Juglans californica
Location: California
Dried Weight: 40lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 1,130lbf
Crushing Strength: not available

Claro Walnut has a heartwood which is golden yellow to a reddish brown color, sometimes with darker streaks and veins. The wood darkens upon exposure to light and with age. The sapwood is a nearly white color. The grain is slightly interlocked, sometimes straight, and it has a medium uniform texture. The wood gives off a high natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. It is rated as moderately durable in regards to decay. The wood is easy to work with and turns, glues, and finishes well.

 

english-walnutEnglish Walnut

Scientific Name: Juglans regia
Location: Eastern Europe and Western Asia
Dried Weight: 40lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 1,220lbf
Crushing Strength: 7,280lbf /in2

English Walnut has a heartwood which is golden yellow to a reddish brown color, sometimes with darker streaks and veins. The wood darkens upon exposure to light and with age. The sapwood is a nearly white color. The grain is slightly interlocked, sometimes straight, and it has a medium uniform texture. The wood gives off a high natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. It is rated as moderately durable in regards to decay. The wood is easy to work with and turns, glues, and finishes well.

 

new-guinea-walnut-sNew Guinea Walnut

Scientific Name: Dracontomelon mangiferum
Location: Southeast Asia
Dried Weight: 39lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 910lbf
Crushing Strength: 6,730lbf /in2

New Guinea Walnut has a heartwood which is a light brown color, sometimes with a reddish, grayish, greenish cast. The sapwood is a pink to gray color. The grain is interlocked and irregular and has a medium to coarse texture. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is good to work with and glues and finishes well.

 

peruvian-walnutPeruvian Walnut

Scientific Name: Juglans spp.
Location: Southern Mexico, Central and South America
Dried Weight: 37lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 960lbf
Crushing Strength: 6,550lbf /in2

Peruvian Walnut has a deep chocolate brown color, sometimes with a purplish hue. The grain is straight, but can be irregular and it has a medium to coarse texture. The wood gives off a good natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. It is rated as moderately durable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.

 

queensland-walnutQueensland Walnut

Scientific Name: Endiandra palmerstonii
Location: Northern Queensland
Dried Weight: 43lbs/ft3
Janka Hardness: 1,670lbf
Crushing Strength: 9,950lbf /in2

Queensland Walnut has a medium pinkish brown to dark brown color, sometimes with streaks of pink, greenish gray, or black colors. The grain is interlocked, and wavy, and it has a medium texture. The wood gives off a moderate natural lustre. It is rated as moderately durable to non-durable in regards to decay. It is a tricky wood to work with but does glues, stain, and finish well.