Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The sapwood of walnut is creamy white, while the heartwood is light brown to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with a purplish cast and darker streaks. Walnut can be supplied steamed, to darken sapwood or left unsteamed. The wood is generally straight grained, but sometimes with wavy or curly grain that produces an attractive and decorative figure.

WORKING PROPERTIES

Walnut works easily with hand and machine tools, and nails, screws and glues well. It hold paint and stain very well and can be polished to an exceptional finish. It dries slowly, and care is needed to avoid kilning degrade. Walnut has good dimensional stability.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Walnut is a tough hard timber of medium density, with moderate bending and crushing strengths and low stiffness. It has a good steam bending classification.

DURABILITY

Rated as very resistant to heartwood decay, it is one of the most durable woods even under conditions favourable to decay. Sapwood liable to attack by powder post beetles.

AVAILABILITY

USA: Reasonable availability with regional limitations.
Export: Reasonable availability in both lumber and veneer.
 

MAIN USES

Furniture, cabinet making, architectural interiors, high class joinery, doors, flooring, and panelling. A favoured wood for using in contrast with lighter coloured timbers.

This information was prepared using material from the WOOD DATA BASE