The American walnut(Juglans nigra) is a tree species of both open and closed forest and park landscapes. Its distribution is limited to the states of Tennessee, Montana and Arkansas. The tree species is comparatively rare and achieves top prices for good quality timber.
Sapwood and heartwood clearly differentiated in color; heartwood is very variable from grey to violet-brown depending on age and location, often with color streaks, irregular veining or cloudy coloring. A uniform gray-brown shade is produced by steaming. Distinct veining or streaking, partly also with a ridged or mottled texture. Relatively coarse poring. Particularly beautiful, very decorative wood.
Density at u=12% is 0.70 t/m³. The shrinkage from the fresh state to u=12% is specified as 6.7% tangential and 4.4% radial. Moderate shrinkage with good stamina. Easy and smooth to machine, good for profiling and turning. Produces uniformly smooth surfaces, easy to polish and stain.
The Brinell hardness is given as 36, the modulus of elasticity as approx. 12,800 N/mm2.
| Sources: |
GOTTWALD 1970: Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers AHAG 1996: North American Hardwoods |
