Walnut

Domestic Species Focus: Walnut Wood

Last updated on June 5, 2017 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Particularly with design trends relying on extreme colors — extreme lights and extreme darks — American Black Walnut is renewing its place as a favored domestic species. No other North American lumber species can boast the same chocolate-colored heartwood, and even exotic species lack the same unusual beauty that Walnut displays. Since before the United States was even a nation, its Walnut lumber has been exported to other shores, where its remarkable beauty has gained popularity for interior woodwork and furniture applications for centuries. While more plentiful back then, today’s Walnut is still highly prized, and for good reason.

Walnut Characteristics

The Black Walnut tree grows across much of North America in many of the same areas where Maple trees grow. The larger, heartier Maple trees are more aggressive, however, and they often starve out nearby Walnut trees. Since Walnut trees demand much light and struggle when subjected to wind, they can often be found surrounded by Maples or other aggressive species, causing them to remain on the shorter side (usually only 30-70 feet tall). Because of their smaller size, Walnuts typically have many branches, often causing the grain to become twisted. The sap layer can be quite large, and the color variation between the sapwood and heartwood can be extreme; for that reason, Walnut lumber is often steamed to reduce the amount of contrast. With oxidation and UV exposure, untreated Walnut typically lightens, blending with other species.

Walnut Grading

Walnut grading is a big issue these days. The grading systems in place simply aren’t effective in categorizing Walnut. You can read about exactly how different the standards for Walnut are, but the basic idea is that the shorter boards and greater number of “defects” are accounted for. While downgrading lumber can generally be considered negative, when it comes to Walnut it actually makes sense. Since the purpose of a grading system is to help buyers differentiate between levels of quality, having fewer levels with which to work would make the system less effective. Using traditional grading category specifications, the FAS category would be virtually pointless for Walnut. All things considered, we are able to offer above-grade boards; at the same time, those boards will be quite different than above-grade Cherry or Maple.

Walnut Applications

Walnut is in high demand for use in cabinetry, furniture, flooring, and other interior woodwork. Today, it even rivals Cherry for popularity. It’s easy on cutting edges yet machines easily due to its mid-range hardness; at the same time, it holds details well and finishes beautifully. Growing demand for Walnut within the boat-building industry requires value engineering, due to Walnut’s very different availability, compared with that of Teak.

Because many people still perceive the quality of Walnut to be low, its high price tag seems to cause frustration. Some, aghast that it can be more expensive than Genuine Mahogany, fail to realize the natural limitations that plague Black Walnut. J. Gibson McIlvain continues to source above-grade Walnut lumber, beautifully steamed to provide our customers with consistent coloring that’s as good as it gets!

Continue Reading About the Wood Industry

• The Secrets to Installing Wide Plank Flooring
• What Lumber Customers Need To Know: What’s With the Fractions?

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.

As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Evaluating Lumber Trends: Why Does Walnut Get Special Treatment?

Last updated on November 18, 2015 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

We looked a little bit at how the natural characteristics of Walnut impact a project in a previous post, but now we’re going to look a little more in depth at why, exactly, that species is graded so uniquely. Maybe you don’t even realize that Walnut is graded on a different scale than other North American hardwoods.

Of course, lack of understanding can lead to unrealistic expectations, and frustration is the inevitable result. Since no one likes to be frustrated, let’s take a look at the issues that come into play with Walnut grading.

If you’re not already familiar with the general scope of NHLA grading, you may want to read this post before you continue below.

FAS (First and Seconds)

While above-grade Walnut (in unusually long and wide boards) can be found, it is quite rare, so the pricing will reflect that fact. The highest official grading category for Walnut, compared to other species, is defined as follows:

• Board Size: Minimum of 6’x5” with 80% measuring 8’ and longer (as opposed to 8’x6” for all boards)
• Clear Cutting Size: Minimum of 3’x4” or 6’x3” (as opposed to 5’x4” or 7’x3”)
• Defects Allowed: 6-7’x5” are permitted with wane along edges with splits no longer than 6” on one end and no more than 1 defect, or 2 defects for boards 8” and wider (as opposed to a minimum board size of 8’x6” and 83.3% clear and defect free on both faces)

Selects

Essentially, this grading category keeps the same standards as FAS, but only for 1 face; the other face must meet the standards for #1 Common (unless otherwise noted).

• Board Size: Minimum of 6’x4” (the same as other species)
• Clear Cutting Size: Minimum of 3’x4” or 6’x3” (as opposed to 5’x4” or 7’x3” for only one face)
• Defects Allowed: 83.3% clear on only one face with the second face meeting the standards of #2 Common Grade (the same as other species)

#1 Common

This grade isn’t very popular, but it should be! It still includes plenty of usable lumber if your application allows you to work around knots or include them in your design. As you can see from the details below, the only difference in #1 Common Grade Walnut and other species in the same grade category is that smaller Walnut boards are allowed into the grade.

• Board Size: Minimum of 4’x3” (the same as other species)
• Clear Cutting Size: Minimum of 2’x3” (as opposed to 3’x3” or 2’x4”)
• Defects Allowed: 66.6% clear on both faces (the same as other species)

#2 Common

Most consider #2 Common to be the lowest grade; lumber that fails to meet the following standards is often used for utility purposes such as pallets. Because boards are small but can be quite nice on one side, this grade of most species is perfect for hardwood flooring, which is often made from narrow boards and only one face will be seen. For Walnut, however, the clear pieces are often so small that it’s reserved for applications that rely on a rustic appearance.

• Board size: 4’x3” (the same as other species)
• Clear Cutting: 2” wide with no length requirements (as opposed to 2’x3” for other species)
• Defects: 50% clear on the better face (the same as other species)

Moulding quality control at J. Gibson McIlvain

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Evaluating Lumber Trends: Does Species Make a Difference?

Last updated on November 18, 2015 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Does wood species really make a difference? We’ll start, again, with the short answer: a resounding YES! We ended the previous post in this series on lumber trends by recommending that designers and architects keep the “undiscovered gold” of short boards in mind. Now, we’re going to take it a step further and discuss how keeping species in view during the design phase is absolutely crucial.

Imagine creating a plan for a structure made from popsicle sticks when only toothpicks were available, and you’ll get the basic idea. Such has been the case for boat builders who are used to working with Teak but receiving requests for other species, such as Walnut. It is possible, but some re-designing will be needed.

First, you need to know a little bit about Walnut — or whatever other species you are planning to use. With Walnut, in particular, there are some peculiarities of size and grading that require careful consideration. Your customer will probably come to you with a species request, enthusiastic about trying something different. Listen and take notes, but don’t make any promises. If the species is unfamiliar to you, you’ll need to do a little homework before you can respond. If they and you are used to working with Teak, you may know the sizes and grades of availability for that species; however, you may be completely in the dark about how other species run.

Education is a good thing, and here at J. Gibson McIlvain lumber company, we’re always glad to share our lumber knowledge and expertise with our customers. As you grow in your understanding of the particular species, you may be frustrated, at first. (After all, you may find out you have only toothpicks with which to build something designed with popsicle sticks.) As you adjust your expectations, though, and become increasingly open to how the job can be redesigned with a different species in mind, you may be surprised!

With the shift from Teak to Walnut, the necessity of having to work around knots can be quite a challenge. But a challenge doesn’t mean impossibility. When you’re willing to think outside the box — or, rather, around the defects — you’ll eliminate waste of both clear lumber and added funds. Even if you’re used to working with Teak (and the high prices that come with it), you’ll no doubt be impressed at how a little value engineering can affect your bottom line. Even if pricing isn’t a factor for you or your customer, clear Walnut is simply difficult to source, so designing with it in mind will only lead to disappointment down the road.

When you as the customer are open about your lumber needs with your lumber supplier, the education process goes both ways. When we know what customers need, we can more specifically source the lumber that will meet their needs. If we know that many prefer a higher grade of Walnut, for instance, we can justify keeping it in stock. We can also instruct an individual grader about the specific requirements for a particular customer’s order, making sure to keep exactly what that customer needs on hand.

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Walnut Lumber: Perfect for Interior Applications

Last updated on October 6, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

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.

Black Walnut Wood – Lumber Wholesale Supplier Information

Last updated on October 1, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

American Black Walnut is a true American gem in the lumber world. This tree is prized for its deep chocolate brown color and unique variations in pattern. Useful for furniture building and interior wood working, this beautiful wood adds charm to any project. Historically exported from America to Britain, this wood gained popularity because it is so different, and, back then, easy to obtain. As the years progressed, Walnut lumber was called for more and more, leading to a decrease in the amount available today.

J. Gibson McIlvain is an exotic and domestic hardwood lumber supplier that proudly offers a full stock of this increasingly rare gem. Their Walnut Lumber comes from the Ohio River Valley where J. Gibson McIlvain representatives are closely involved in the selection and production process. McIlvain ensures top quality lumber through environmentally friendly practices.

Why so different?

From Walnut tree to Walnut lumber, McIlvain has a hand in it all. Not the least of which is the board selection for each custom order. This is done by trained experts following the National Hardwood Lumber Association standards. Each board is rated on the FAS grading system which dictates that the board is a certain width and length while having a certain number of allowed natural characteristics or defects.

Most lumber, such as Cherry or Mahogany, has a minimum board measurement of 6” by 8’, where Walnut Lumber allows for a smaller dimension. A Walnut board may be 5” by 6’ or 7’ because of its unique properties.

Included in these cuts is more sapwood than normal as well as more wane, the curved portion of a board due to the circular nature of the log it was cut from, because of the smaller nature of the Walnut tree. Walnut Lumber is known for its deep chocolate brown color which, over time, mellows to a mature wood that blends well with other pieces. This is not to say that Walnut will not make a statement, as each piece will be unique because of the natural characteristics.

The Bottom Line

All of these specifications may lend an appearance of lesser quality only when stacked against its competitors. But Walnut lumber is in a class all its own, allowing the top quality wood less uniformity and more personality. Its unique properties are exactly what make Walnut lumber perfect for furniture and interior wood work statements. Many of the most prized antiques on the market are made with Walnut lumber.

Popularity, unique specifications, and increasing scarcity have driven the price of Walnut lumber above that of more exotic hardwoods, but J. Gibson McIlvain endeavors to produce this wood at its finest quality so that the traditions for which Walnut lumber are prized can continue into the future.