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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Juglans regia Trade Name European walnut Family Name Juglandaceae Common Names Akhor, Akrot, Ancona, Auvergne, Basilikon, Binbogh, Black Sea walnut, British walnut, Carua, Caucasian walnut, Charmaghz, Charmagz, Circassian walnut, Dun, Dur, English walnut, European walnut, French walnut, Gretski aryekh, Italian walnut, Jaoz, Juglans, Ka, Kabotang, Kabshing, Kamkhol, Kaukasisches, Kharot, Khol, Khor, Ko-tiao, Kol, Krot, Nussbaumholz, Okhar, Orzech wloski, Persicon, Spanish walnut, Starga, Tagashing, Than, Thanka, Thitcha, Titcha, Ughz, Waghz, Walnut Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burma, China, Croatia, France, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Pakistan, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia Common Uses Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture, Gunstocks, Joinery, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Paneling, Poles, Rifle stock, Sporting Goods, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Classified as Vulnerable in China Distribution Overview Native to the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Europe, but often found growing wild eastward to Himalayas and China. Widely cultivated throughout this region and elsewhere in temperate zone of the Old and New World. Thrives in temperate Himalayas from 1,000 to 3,000 m altitude. In North America, thrives as far north as New York State. Introduced from Spain by way of Chile to California about 1867. In 1873 'Kaghazi' was introduced in northern California and a seedling 'Eureka' has become the important source of our commercial varieties. Thrives on rich, sandy loam, well-drained, slightly acid or neutral. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Purple Greenish to greyish Brown Dark brown Black Purple Pale red to pink Greyish brown Contains dark streaks Wood at the central portion of trees are often clearly distinct from the normal heartwood. This phenomenon occurs in timber with wavy grain. The color is reported to bleach because of the action of UV light and requires inhibitors in finishes. Sapwood Color White Brown Yellow Paler than heartwood Well defined White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Wavy Burrs (figure) Very fine Variable (figure) Even Closed Mottled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Rays (figure) Straight Wavy Distinct figure Figure shows burrs Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Variable figure Mottled figure Rays figure Occasionally wavy Irregular color Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Fine Even or uniform Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Fine Medium Fine to medium Luster Medium High Low Slightly lustrous Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Perishable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Non durable Logs are also susceptible to attack by the forest longhorn (Buprestid) beetles. The heartwood is fairly durable. Weathering Excellent Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate end spitting Honeycomb may develop in thicker stock Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Moderate Difficult Variable results. Radial: 3.0% Shrinkage from green to 12% MC Tangential: 5.5% The wood dries well, but slowly. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 60-70 m Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Diameter sometimes up to 150 cmMost trees are reported to grow in open areas, where they develop widespreading crowns of lustrous foliage Product Sources European walnut is very limited in availability, and can be obtained only in the form of veneer. It is typically priced in the expensive range. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Aningre (Aningeria altissima and Aningeria robusta), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and Ntene (Copaifera religiosa) are all possible substitutes. Mutenye (Guibourtia arnoldiana) is a possible veneer substitute. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Reaction with Metals - Blue-black stains may develop on surfaces of damp wood that comes in contact with iron or iron compounds. Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Medium effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Responds fairly well to boring Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good carving properties Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Brown - medium value Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Yields a clean surface Finishes satisfactorily Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Satisfactory moulding qualities Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Stable Small Seasoned wood has moderate dimensional stability, and shows medium movement after manufacture. Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planed surfaces are relatively clean Fairly easy to work Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Response to hand tools is rated as fairly good Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing characteristics are rather fair Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanded surfaces are usually clean Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing yields good results Turning Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Good results Responds well to machine tools to yield fairly clean surfaces Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling