If you’ve lusted after walnut furniture before, Black Walnut is likely what you’ve come to expect. Visually it’s dark brown like coffee with a splash of cream, and its physical properties make great, strong furniture. It’s grown and harvested in the Eastern United States and is more of an industrial product. Because of this it’s predictably consistent batch to batch, so much so that when I source it I’m not sure if any two pieces of timber came from the same tree. Likely not. It’s ‘the standard’ and what people come pounding at my workshop door for, panting with cold sweats complaining of walnut fever. It’s scientific name is Junglans nigra.

Junglans hindsii on the other hand, common name Claro Walnut, is a specialty in its own right and particularly fawned over by us in the Pacific Northwest where it natively grows. It’s a shade or two darker than black walnut, and often has hues that skew red or purple depending on the tree. It’s not farmed, instead coming from urban and rural settings as more of a salvage. Because these trees have grown naturally and in different settings, timber looks different tree to tree. I generally source mine from Goby Walnut who are world renowned for their work, and am generally getting boards all from the same tree, or two that look similar.

I offer my furniture in both Black Walnut and Claro Walnut, in addition to Maple, Cherry, and White Oak. Everyone has their preference and at the end of the day I’ve never met a walnut I don’t like, but if you asked my preference I’d tell you anything local wins my heart. Any time a material or product is local there’s inherently a richer, clearer picture of where it came from, and those stories matter to me while woodworking, but also matter when you’re enjoying your furniture for years to come. If torn, I often suggest Claro Walnut to those who’ve lived, are living, or have a connection to the Pacific Northwest or the West Coast. Black Walnut on the other hand will never let ya down either, and I recommend it to those who are looking to match preexisting walnut furniture, or who have an East Coast connection of their own.

If you’re a wood wonk like me you may be interested in learning more about walnut in general, and if so Shannon’s Lumber Industry Update is a great podcast to start with. Here’s an episode about Black Walnut. And if you’d like to explore the big glorious trees Goby works with, check them out too. Want to follow along in the process? Checkout my IG at the link below.

Until next time, be well!

Kyle