nigra, or black walnut, is one of the rarest and most valuable hardwood species in North America. The trees can grow to 30 or 40 m in height; under forest conditions, where the trees must compete for light, it grows a tall, straight trunk. J.
Walnut is by definition a hardwood. That means it comes from a deciduous tree (i.e. one that sheds its leaves each autumn) called the black walnut, AKA American walnut. Walnut heartwood has a rich, chocolaty brown color.
Black walnut ranks third in hardness - about 20% below red oak. Cherry is another 5% or so softer than walnut. Wood hardness is certainly something you'll want to take into consideration as you make your species selection.
Rot Resistance: Black Walnut is rated as very durable in terms of decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack. Workability: Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular. Planer tearout can sometimes be a problem when surfacing pieces with irregular or figured grain.
White Oak is one of the harder woods, with a Janka rating of 1360. Red Oak is slightly softer with a rating of 1290. And American or Black Walnut is among the softest hardwoods with a Janka rating of 1010.
Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF
Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.
What is the hardest wood in North America? Of locally available woods, Black Ironwood is typically the strongest type of wood you can find in America. It's found in Florida and has a 3,660 lbf (16,280 N) Janka rating. Other strong North American woods include species of hickory, maples, oaks, walnuts, and beeches.
Allelopathic Toxicity: Juglone
Black walnuts exude a biochemical called juglone from nearly all plant parts, including roots, decaying leaves, twigs, nut hulls and inner bark. Competing plantings that are sensitive to juglone will typically develop yellowed, wilting leaves, particularly during hot and dry weather.
Black Walnut trees make excellent shade trees. Their ability to grow up to 30″ per year make them one of the faster growing hardwoods. The main drawback to Black Walnut trees in a yard or sidewalk is the nuts that will fall, that can be a tripping hazard and make a mess.
Hickory is among the hardest domestic hardwoods with a Janka rating of 1820, while American or Black Walnut is among the softest with a rating of 1010.
The Black Walnut is one of the most expensive and lucrative trees to sell, thanks to its high-quality dark wood. The tree ranges from $5- $10 per board foot, although it can cost more depending on other factors. In most cases, your 20-inch tree can fetch you $700- $800.
The higher the rating, the harder the wood species is. Maple has an impressive hardness rating of roughly 1450, while walnut measures at a still respectable 1010.
Walnut and oak, while both premier cabinet wood species, can come at significantly different price points. Walnut will almost always be more expensive than oak. That's because walnut is not as populous, which results in it being harder to source and more expensive.
Black walnut timber is very highly prized for its straight, dark, heavy, strong, fine-grained heartwood, which is used to make fine furniture, valuable gunstocks, flooring, oars, and coffins. Because the species is now relatively rare in the wild, the timber is currently used for veneer as well.
Following are the reasons why Walnut wood is expensive.
The tree takes around 50 years to mature, it is longer than most other trees. It is in high demand due to its desired characteristics such as durability, strength or aesthetic making it one of the best wood species around.
They also pack plenty of vitamin A, iron, minerals, and fiber. Black walnuts have higher levels of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other health-promoting compounds than the more common English walnuts, making them useful in reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
They are packed with essential fats, antioxidants, fiber, and plant compounds that improve overall health. However, one must also be aware of the side effects of walnuts. Overconsumption of walnuts may cause digestive issues and allergies, lead to weight gain and choking in children, and aggravate ulcers.
The large fruit ripens between September and October. Upon ripening the husk softens and turns dark brown to black. Found throughout the eastern U.S., black walnut thrives in deeper, well drained, neutral soils. Black walnut is a shade intolerant species, and must have direct sunlight to grow optimally.
Allergic reactions to black walnut hull range in severity. You might experience mild symptoms such as an itchy nose or hives, or severe problems including difficulty breathing, swelling in the face and throat, vomiting, fainting and a weak or rapid pulse.
Walnut dust can cause irritation, sensitization, and even poisoning. These can cause allergic reactions on your skin, eyes, and lungs. These reactions can be developed after several exposure to wood dust.
All types of walnut produce stable and reliable wood. That is to say, it will stand the test of time thanks to the fine grain density, high shock-absorption rate, and overall stability of the entire Juglans tree family.
There is no scientific evidence to prove that black walnut safely kills intestinal parasites. If you are pregnant, don't take the black walnut because when taken in high doses, it can have strong laxative effects.
Characteristics of balsa wood make it a unique hardwood albeit, when weight for weight basis is excluded, it is the weakest of all commercial species.
African Blackwood
It is considered as the most expensive wood in the world because not only it is challenging to work with hand or machine tools, its trees are already near-threatened. But as expensive as it may seem, African Blackwood is worth the price.
The cheapest types of wood in general are: white wood. pine. soft maple.