Advantages and disadvantages walnut wood

The lively grained wood of walnut is mainly used for the production of
luxurious interiors and exclusive furniture. The Walnut family is associated
with the walnut tree throughout Europe and warm regions. In addition, the
walnut tree is also native to North Africa, America and Asia. Originally the
walnut comes from Asia Minor, Persia and Greece.

Meanwhile, the wood of the walnut tree is very rare in Germany and
therefore very precious. Mainly the walnut does not occur in this country in
forests, but in parks and gardens.

Lively surface texture of walnut wood

The uneven color of the walnut wood has a blackish brown to light brown nuance
with some purple or red shimmer. The wider, darker veins make the grain vivid
and special due to the irregularity. The structure of valuable walnut wood
can be cloudy, flamed or striped. According to the location vary the
structure and the nuance of the wood. For example, French walnut wood is
characterized by a subtle, reddish shade and a very regular grain. The living
surface structure, which is fully apparent in veneer, is due to the wood’s
individual coloring and grain. The term “Black Walnut” describes
the American walnut in the trade, which on the one hand seems to be more
uniformly colored, and on the other hand also darker than the European
variant. In strong sunlight, the wood of the walnut tree can darken
considerably, and the grain tends to fade into the background.

Excellent processing qualities of walnut wood

Walnut wood has excellent processing qualities and can therefore be
particularly well profiled, carving, polishing or planing. Likewise, the
treatments of the surface are very well received. Normally, walnut wood is
used untreated, or only with transparent agents, as the decorative character
of the structure is much appreciated. Walnut is flexible and tough, yet elastic.
Walnut for outdoor use is not particularly weather-resistant, but also
resistant to fungal attack. In some cases, the walnut, as in the case of the
American “Black Cherry” but also susceptible to fungal attack. In
general, the walnut is little resistant to insects. Due to the hardness
walnut wood is very resistant to wear and very dimensionally stable, since it
warps only slightly. In the exclusive interior, the fine wood is gladly used.
Due to the high price for the solid wood, veneers are often used. As solid
wood walnut is mainly used in the fields of parquet, instrument making or
wainscoting. Preferably, the wood is used in furniture for living room and
bedroom furniture.

Advantages of walnut wood:

– easy to work with

– dimensionally stable

– aesthetic structure of the surface

– resistant.

Disadvantages of walnut wood:

– high price

– not weather resistant

– low occurrence in native forests.