Black Walnut Uses
The heartwood of black walnut ranks with the most durable woods, including cedars, chestnut, and black locust, even under conditions favorable to decay. Because of the unique color and grain characteristics, walnut has been a prized wood for furniture, cabinets, millwork, flooring and other decorative interior applications, as well as gunstocks. Bookcases, desks, dining room tables, bedroom furniture, office furniture, and many other pieces are frequently made of walnut. Because of its low movement after seasoning, walnut is particularly suitable for gunstocks. Figured black walnut stocks are prized for expensive shotguns and sporting rifles.
Walnut is rated intermediate in planning, but it is a good wood for shaping and the best of any commercial hardwood species for turning. At 12 percent moisture content, walnut weighs about 38 pounds per cubic foot. For its weight, it is a relatively strong wood. Walnut can be dried relatively easily with a moderate kiln schedule and holds its shape well after seasoning. Black Walnut is normally straight grained, is worked easily with power or hand tools and has excellent machining properties. With figured crotch wood it is necessary to watch the direction of feed, in both thickness planers and jointers. Walnut wood finishes gorgeously, can be stained and satisfactorily glued.