Butternut

Butternut, also called White Walnut (scientific name: Juglanscinerea), has a heartwood of light to medium tan color, occasionally with a red tint. Sapwood is pale yellow-white. Its texture is moderate to coarse, luster is silky and grain is straight.

Butternut is commonly found in eastern United States. It ranges from moderately durable to not durable and is prone to insect attack.

Janka Hardness :
2,180 N (490 lbf)

Average Dried Weight :
435 kg/m3 (27 lbs/ft3)

Workability :
Easy to work with hand tools and machine tools. It is good with glues and stains, and finishes well. Because it is so soft, planing and sanding can leave surface fuzzy. Avoid this with fine grit sandpaper and sharp cutters.

Pricing / Availability

is generally available in the domestic market in the form of lumber or carving blanks. In terms of its pricing, it is regarded as a ‘mid-range’ domestic hardwood.

Sustainability

While Butternut is not mentioned either in the IUCN’s Red List or in the CITES Appendices, it is still considered as a tree to be protected by Canadian authorities since a large number of Butternut trees have been affected by a fungal disease colloquially known as ‘Butternut canker’. In fact, this affliction in Butternut trees is not native to Canada and has also affected trees of this kind in the US, thereby compelling the US Fish and Wildlife Service to mention it in its list of species of federal concern.