Historically, Walnut has been prized throughout all corners of America, especially among furniture makers. Since the Colonial Era, when Walnut lumber was exported from the American Colonies back to Britain and the rest of Europe, the lumber’s beautiful appearance has been highly sought after by furniture makers and other craftsmen. Not only is the wood famous for the wonderfully unique chocolate brown coloration of its heartwood, but it is also popular due to the simple fact that it is generally cheaper to obtain than Mahogany. This price difference is one of the many reasons that the use of Walnut lumber was so widespread throughout the country during the Colonial Era, and today, Walnut’s popularity is nearly equal to that of Cherry, one of the most beloved woods in America.
Walnut is generally considered to be best suited for indoor applications, so some of the most common purchasers of Walnut lumber are furniture makers and flooring companies. The wood’s rich tones and deep chocolate brown make it perfect for constructing focal point furniture pieces, beautiful floors, centerpiece doors, and unique paneling. What’s more, the wood is extremely easy to work and machine, yet, because of its middle-of-the-road hardness, it still holds details well. Very rarely can a wood claim to be both gentle on cutting edges yet hard enough to retain finishing details; however, Walnut exhibits both of these characteristics.
Walnut lumber that has been freshly milled can sometimes exhibit a variety of color hues, especially purples and creams, but these variations in color patterns can be fixed if the lumber dealer follows the correct processes. The high quality lumber dealers at McIlvain Company, for example, steam their boards to ensure that the Walnut remains evenly and uniformly chocolate brown in color. If permitted to remain exposed to air and sunlight, Walnut will eventually lighten in color, allowing it to blend very well with a wide range of other wood species.
For interior applications, Walnut is a perfect lumber choice. The wood boasts a perfect balance of hardness and workability, and its color and grain patterns make for beautiful and unique wood projects.
Log homes and timber frame construction provide unique settings in which to showcase massive specimens of lumber and craftsmanship. They echo with nostalgia for a bygone era in which pegged joints and solid wood joinery were appreciated as they should be. The strength required of thick posts and gigantic trusses elicit feelings of awe. As timber frame construction ventures beyond the scope of rustic homes, the industry is on the rise. However, the sheer length and quantity of appearance-grade lumber required can sometimes be difficult to obtain. Luckily, the longtime lumber specialists at J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber consistently provide the Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar that is suitable for this industry.
As the timber of choice for structural parts, Douglas Fir boasts excellent strength and weather resistance. Because these trees quickly grow to great heights and widths, they’re easily available—a key factor when large lengths and widths are needed. Widths such as 8”x8” or even 12”x12” are common, as are lengths of 25 feet and longer. The tight grain of Douglas Fir finishes well, making it an ideal species for timber framing needs. One downside for a Midwest or East Coast supplier is that Douglas Fir grows only in the Pacific Northwest, making shipping such large timbers difficult and expensive with some suppliers. Other suppliers, though, like McIlvain, offer nationwide shipping, thus eliminating this drawback.
With the structural parts taken care of, there are still more raw materials needed.