Walnut is rated at a 1010 on the Janka Hardness Scale. European Oak is a 1360 on the same scale. This means that Oak is more durable than Walnut and will stand up better against constant use and daily wear and tear. Walnut isn't the best flooring choice for high-traffic areas of the home.
Walnut floors usually are softer than oak, as they have a wider grain. However, there are variations in different types of oak and walnut, so it is worth looking at the hardness of the specific variety you are considering.
Maple is harder than oak.
Where you use the hardwood is more important than its density and hardness. Differing sub-species of each variety also play an important role when considering the choices between oak and maple.
Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.
Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale.
Common red oak has a Janka hardness of 1220 lbf, meaning it takes 1220 pounds of force to drive the steel ball halfway into the wood. For reference, soft balsa wood requires only 67 lbf and the hardest wood in the world, Australian Buloke, has a Janka hardness of 5060 lbf.
As you can see in the accompanying graph, rock maple is the hardest of these four hardwoods - about 15% harder than red oak, which ranks second. Black walnut ranks third in hardness - about 20% below red oak. Cherry is another 5% or so softer than walnut.
Most types of Walnut firewood burn easily and cleanly if the wood has been seasoned for between one and two years. There is very little smoke put out, so to speak. Green Walnut, on the other hand, produces clouds of thick and harmful smoke. Green Walnut should never be burned inside in large amounts (kindling is fine).
1. Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF. An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.
These calculations change when referring to green pine or oak. Unseasoned wood is denser and heavier, because it holds more water. Oak is typically a third denser as a greenwood, and therefore much heavier.
Maple is among the harder wood species, with a 1450 rating on the Janka wood hardness chart. As one of the densest wood species, Maple is ideal for high-traffic areas. Oak is slightly less hard – White Oak has a 1360 rating and Red Oak a 1290 rating.
Walnut wood is a hardwood that is valued for the grain, colour and strength. You can guarantee a smooth finish.
Walnut flooring is darker than oak and it is an open grained wood. Walnut wood is harder than oak but it is softer than many others. It is very difficult to produce the look of natural walnut artificially.
Walnut firewood is excellent firewood with medium density and is relatively easy to burn. It's good quality firewood that burns clean, is easy to start, and has a pleasant aroma. The BTU value is not as high as other hardwoods, such as oak, but is much better than softwood, such as pine or fir.
Black walnut trees are a popular choice for firewood because they have a high heat value and long burn time.
Walnut is often used as a mixing wood for smoking because of its tendency to impart strong, bitter flavors to meat. Because it has such a strong flavor, it's ideal for red meats or game meats. Try using walnut in this recipe for smoked venison.
Walnut is rated at a 1010 on the Janka Hardness Scale. European Oak is a 1360 on the same scale. This means that Oak is more durable than Walnut and will stand up better against constant use and daily wear and tear.
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.
Walnut is a softer wood than Maple. The benefit of this is that a knife will be much less likely to dull when using this wood, but there is a tradeoff since the softer wood is easier to scratch or dent. Its medium to large pores offer some resistance to bacteria and moisture but not as much as Maple.
Walnut wood is hard, heavy, and resilient, capable of resisting warping and suffering very little shrinkage. The grain is irregular but typically straight with a medium texture. The endgrain is semi-porous with distinct growth rings. Although susceptible to insects, English Walnut is quite resistant to decay.
Hickory is the hardest, commercially available common wood. Next in line are pecan, hard maple and white oak. Hardwood includes wood like hickory, oak, mahogany, maple and walnut.
Re: Chainsaw and oak
Live oak is as hard as mesquite. If you cut it dry with a dull or misfiled chain and just power through it, you will smoke both your chain and bar.