This remains one of the finest timbers available from Europe.

Juglans regia
Family: Juglandaceae

Commercial Names: Named after the country of origin, e.g. English, French, Italian, Circassian, Persian Walnut etc.

Distribution: Europe, including the UK, Asia Minor and South West Asia.

General Description: The colour of the heartwood varies according to origin. Usually grey-brown with infiltrations of darker colouring irregularly distributed as streaks of smokey brown. The grain is straight to wavy, with a rather coarse texture. The figured wood sometimes forms a well defined central core. Weight averages 640 kg/m3 (40lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.64.

Mechanical Properties: Walnut has medium bending strength and resistance to shock loads, high crushing strength and low stiffness, and a very good steam bending classification.

Working Properties: This timber works easily and well with both hand and machine tools and finishes cleanly, with only a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Nailing and screwing is good; gluing is satisfactory and the material polishes to a high finish. An easy timber to carve.

Durability: Moderately durable. The sapwood is liable to attack by powder post and common furniture beetle, and the logs are susceptible to Longhorn and Buprestid beetle attack. The heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment, but the sapwood is permeable.

Uses: This excellent timber is used in the solid and veneer form for high-class furniture, cabinet making, bank and office fittings, rifle butts and gunstocks, turnery and carving, doors, sports goods, and fascias.