WALNUT

THE TREE

THE NAME WALNUT IS APPLIED TO A NUMBER OF FIGURED BROWN WOODS, BUT ONLY THOSE PRODUCED BY SPECIES OF JUGLANS ARE TRUE WALNUTS. WALNUT OCCURS IN THE WARMER TEMPERATE REGION OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. TWO TIMBERS ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE, EUROPEAN WALNUT, WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY GROWN IN EUROPE FOR A VERY LONG TIME BUT ORIGINATED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS OF SW ASIA; AND AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT, OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. WALNUT IS A MEDIUM-SIZED TREE, 20 TO 30m HIGH; IT IS AS IMPORTANT FOR ITS NUTS AS FOR ITS TIMBER.
THE WOOD

EUROPEAN WALNUT IS GREY-BROWN WITH ALMOST BLACK STREAKS AND GENERALLY MORE VARIABLE IN COLOR THAN AMERICAN WALNUT, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A UNIFORM DARK PURPLE-BROWN. THE GRAIN IS STRAIGHT OR OCCASIONALLY WAVY; TEXTURE MEDIUM. WALNUT IS A LITTLE LIGHTER THAN BEECH IN WEIGHT.

TECHNICAL PROPERTIES

WALNUT DRIES SLOWLY, BUT ONCE DRY, IT IS MODERATELY STABLE IN USE. IT WORKS EASILY AND IS NOTED FOR ITS EXCELLENT FINISH, IT IS MODERATELY RESISTANT TO FUNGI.

USES

WALNUT IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S OUTSTANDING DECORATIVE WOODS, LONG USED FOR CABINETWORK, AND PARTICULARLY ASSOCIATED WITH FURNITURE OF THE QUEEN ANNE PERIOD. TODAY, WALNUT IS USED IN FURNITURE AND FOR DECORATIVE PANELING MAINLY AS VENEER; IT IS USED IN THE SOLID FOR FINE JOINERY AND FOR BOWLS AND OTHER TURNED ITEMS, AND IT IS THE PREFERRED TIMBER FOR THE BUTTS AND STOCKS OF RIFLES AND GUNS.
 SOFT WOODS: