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Butternut : (Juglans cinerea)

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Common Names

Butternut

White Walnut

Oilnut

Nogal

Nogal Blanco

Nogal Silvestre

Nuez Meca Tocte Tropical Walnut
Walnut

Physical Profile

Sapwood Color

The thin sapwood is described as white to light grayish brown, usually about one inch wide.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood is light brown, often with dark brown streaks or red tones. It has also been described as light chestnut-brown, medium-brown to dark brown, or warm buttery tan.

Grain

The grain, which is usually straight, has also been described as satiny and leafy. Some veneer flitches may exhibit small dark spots.

Texture

The wood has medium to coarse, but soft texture, which resembles that of Black walnut.

Odor

There is no significant odor or taste.

Movement in Service

The wood is fairly stable in service. It is reported to stay in place with minimum movement and shrinkage after seasoning.

Planing

Butternut is reported to respond well to planing and other woodworking operations, but it is soft and requires very sharp cutting edges to prevent tearing.

Turning

Not Available

Boring

Not Available

Mortising

Not Available

Gluing

The wood glues very well.

Sanding

Not Available

Polishing

Polishing qualities are reported to be very good.

Staining

The wood stains very well.

Varnishing

Not Available

Steam Bending

Not Available

Response to Hand Tools

The wood works very satisfactorily with hand tools. Cutting tools must be kept sharp for maximum efficiency.

Miscellaneous Comments

Butternut is reported to have been a favorite wood for church altars, and carvers still enjoy using the wood. It is currently used mainly for furniture. The wood is weak in stiffness, and is also rated as moderately weak in bending and edge-wise compression.