All about walnut wood

Growing a walnut tree requires a lot of commitment. However, it is well worth all the time and effort as the value of walnut wood has increased tremendously over the years. Although walnut wood has stiff competition with comparatively more famous woods like mahogany, it is considered a premier hardwood for a variety of purposes.

Walnut wood comes from the family of trees known as juglandaceae. There are several types of walnut wood classified in this family. The most popular are black walnut, butternut, and English walnut. However, the most prominent type of tree used to make wood is the American black walnut. Wood has a rich history. Since colonial times, American families have used this wood in barns and houses. Lately, the wood is cultivated in the highlands of India, mainly in Kashmir, to make wooden furniture.

The walnut timer has a variety of uses. It is used to make wooden furniture, musical instruments such as the piano, and wooden crafts. It is also used to make gun butts, paneling, and flooring for rooms. High-quality walnut wood is made into veneers. These are sheets of wood that are about 1/28-inch thick and are usually glued over cheaper-quality wood that serves as a frame.

There are two different types of hickory wood depending on the ply. While the inner layer is known as the heartwood, the outer layer is known as the sapwood. The sapwood is creamy white in color and is usually about three inches across. The heartwood, on the other hand, sports a chocolate brown color. The surface of the walnut wood has a variation of fine grain. The rich and illustrious brown color lasts for centuries and is therefore a favorite for making wooden furniture.

Walnut wood is relatively easy to work with both hand and power tools. You can easily engrave crisp details into wood after routing, shaping and sanding. It is strong, shock resistant and stable. It does not swell or shrink easily. These are the qualities that manufacturers of wooden furniture look for. The biggest advantage is that you don’t need to add a layer of stain to make it look more attractive. In addition, the natural color of the walnut wood gives it such an attractive appearance that you simply have to apply a clear lacquer. In fact, many connoisseurs of hickory wood prefer not to stain their wood.

The quality of the walnut wood is usually judged by the probable defects that it may have. These defects include knots, insect holes, bird pecks, dead limbs, etc. The best shaped part of any hickory wood is usually taken from the roots of the tree. However, the amount of wood extracted from these parts is not much and can only be used to make small wooden ornaments. Wooden furniture requires more wood and that is derived from the body of the tree. It is important to note that sawdust from walnut wood can cause eye, nose and skin irritation. It could also cause serious illnesses like asthma and allergies. Dust masks are highly recommended when working with hickory wood.