AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT: B
A really beautiful timber and as with all American species sapwood is included in all grades as no defect. Although we know we are purchasing the finest possible production available, sapwood maybe evident in some boards.

Juglans nigra
Family: Juglandaceae

Commercial names: Virginia Walnut (UK); Walnut (USA).
Other names: Canaletto, Black Hickory Nut, Canadian Walnut, Walnut Tree ;

Distribution: Eastern USA and Ontario, Canada.

General description: The heartwood is a rich dark brown to purplish-black, with distinct grey sapwood, mostly straight grained but with wavey or curly grain occasionally present. The texture is rather coarse. Weight averages 640 kg/m3 (40lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.64.

Mechanical properties: This is a tough, hard timber of medium density, with with moderate bending and crushing strengths and low stiffness. It has a good steam bending classification.

Seasoning: Dries rather slowly with a tendency to honeycomb and requires care to avoid checking and degradation. There is a small movement in service.

Working properties: Works with hand or machine tools without difficulty with moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Holds nails or screws well, glues satisfactorily and polishes to a high finish.

Durability: Very durable. Sapwood liable to attack by powder post beetle. The heartwood is is resistant to preservative treatment and biodegradation.

Uses: In the USA it is the standard timber for rifle butts and gunstocks. It is extensively used for high-quality furniture, cabinetmaking and interior joinery, boatbuilding, musical instruments, clockcases, turnery and carving.

JBT Comments: .
Under the N.H.L.A. grading rules sapwood is not classed as a defect in Black Walnut and it is common for some productions to be very sappy. We try to purchase our stock as free from sapwood as possible but some will be included, possibly on both faces of a board and must not be regarded as a defect.

In order to reduce the contrast in colour between the grey sapwood and purple-brown heartwood, the majority of American Black Walnut imported into the UK is steamed at a high temperature as with French Walnut. Although this reduces the brightness of the sapwood there remains a sapwood/heartwood difference which is less pronounced. It is important to try and incorporate sapwood as an accepted part of the timber.

Under the Walnut grading rules more knots and other defects are permissable than in similar grades of Ash or Oak. Olease bear this in mind when allowing for wastage factors. There are now only a few importers holding a stock of American Black Walnut here in the UK.We feel that our shippers offer some of the finest stocks available.

JBT:Special Sawn Log Stock.
Due to an increasing demand for thinner thicknesses (1/2ins & 3/4ins) and also for stock as free from sapwood as possible. We have taken into stock, round American Black Walnut logs which we have sawn and kiln dried in our mill.

We offer kiln dried boards sawn through and through which may be resawn with one square edge or square edged. The stock that we offer is up to , if not better, than that purchased direct from the USA under the N.H.L.A.grading rules. We also hold a stock of American Black Walnut logs in the round for customers to select for sawing and kiln drying to their particular requirements.

Certification:
We have established a supply of American Black Walnut which is produced from well managed forests, independently certified in accordance with the rules of Forest Stewardship Council A.C. All our Certified Timber is processed through our Chains of Custody which are audited by BM TRADA Certification.

Grade: Export Grade 80% FAS. 20% FAS. IF..

Specification: Square edge; 6ft to 12ft, heavy in 6ft to 8ft lengths. 4ins and wider allowing 15% 6/7ft plus 10ins and wider in 1" thickness.

Stockholding: 4000 cubic feet in kiln dried stock; 1in to 4ins thickness. 300cubic feet of round logs available for sawing and kilning to customer requirements.