At One Place

Black walnut

Density of black walnut
610 kg/m³ (550–660)
0.61 g/cm³ · 38.1 lb/ft³

The only native North American hardwood that is naturally dark, which is most of its commercial value — everything else has to be stained to imitate it. It is dimensionally stable and absorbs recoil well, which is why gun stocks have been walnut for three centuries. Its roots and husks release juglone, which is toxic to many garden plants, so walnut sawdust should not go on a vegetable bed or in horse bedding.

Properties

Density
610 kg/m³ (550–660) — 0.61 g/cm³
Young's modulus
11.6 GPa
Floats in water
Yes
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Fine furniture and veneers
  • Rifle and shotgun stocks
  • Turned bowls and boxes
  • Musical instrument bodies and fingerboards

How it compares

Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.

air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
black walnut 610 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.
Material Density Relative to water
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³ 0.04×
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³ 0.02×
air 1.2 kg/m³ 0.00×
black walnut ← 610 kg/m³ 0.61×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

Black walnut contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

Is it magnetic?

Black walnut is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of black walnut?
610 kg/m³ (550–660), or 0.61 g/cm³.
Does black walnut float?
Yes. At 610 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
Is black walnut magnetic?
Black walnut is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked