Introduction
Peruvian Walnut is a family of Juglandaceae Nogal, native to Southern Mexico, Central, and South America. It is also known as Nogal. It is almost similar to black walnut. Many carpenters consider Peruvian Walnut as an alternative to black walnut. It is commonly harvested for hardwood lumber.
| # | Peruvian Walnut |
| Scientific Name: | Juglans spp. |
| Tree Size: | 30-60 ft (9-18 m) tall |
| Trunk Diameter | 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) |
| Average Dried Weight: | 37 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3) |
| Janka Hardness: | 960 lbf (4,250 N) |
| Workability: | Easy to work |
Peruvian Walnut Uses
Furniture: Peruvian walnut is hard, durable, and stable. So It is suitable for making high-quality furniture. Its deep chocolate brown color and straight grain pattern give a great look to the furniture. Peruvian walnut can be a great option for interior furniture.
Musical Instruments: Due to the dark color and bending properties, It is suitable used to make bodies and parts of musical instruments. However, it is not as famous as mahogany and Sapele. But Peruvian walnut is used as a substitute for mahogany. Read the difference between Sapele vs walnut.
Flooring: Hardwood is considered suitable for flooring. Because the chances of getting dents and scratches are very less. The Janka hardness of Peruvian Walnut is 960 lbf (4,250 N). Which is enough for flooring. To increase the durability of any wooden flooring, use furniture leg pads and carpets.
Other: Peruvian walnut has great shock resistance and elasticity properties. So it may be a good option to make rifle stocks.
Peruvian walnut is moderately durable and has low decay resistance. So it is not considered suitable for exterior applications. But still, it is used in some outdoor projects. It requires regular maintenance to be used for a long time.
Wood color and appearance
Peruvian walnut heartwood varies from chocolate brown to purplish hue and sapwood is light to cream. The color depends on their environment and their place of origin.
Most Peruvians Walnuts have a straight grain with a medium to coarse texture. But irregular grain has also been seen in some wood logs. It has large to very large grain pores.
Workability Properties
Peruvian Walnut has good working properties. It can be easily worked with hand tools and machines. Due to irregular grain patterns, sometimes hand wood planers can be a little difficult. But electric planning can be done easily.
Holds nails and screws well and takes an exceptional stain. Generally, No pre-drilling is required before applying nails and screws. It has very good steam bending characteristics.
Durability
If we talk about the durability of walnut, then most species of walnut are strong, hard, and durable wood. Peruvian walnut wood is one of them. Its rigidity and strength are sufficient to wear a heavy load.
For external use, can be used after painting and polishing. It closes its open pores so that a protective layer is formed which protects the wood from dust and moisture for a long time.
Availability
It is easily available in South American and nearby areas. But it is more expensive than other domestic walnut species. Because it is becoming rare day by day. According to a report, in the last few generations, It has been reduced to around 40 to 50% of its population.
Peruvian Walnut is not listed in the CITES Appendices but on the IUCN Red List. It is hoped that this excellent species will balance its population in the coming few generations.
How Long Does It Take for Peruvian Walnut Wood to Dry Out?
Peruvian Walnut is a medium-density wood. So it may take some time to dry. If it is dried quickly in a bad way, it can twist and crack. Hence proper methods should be used for drying it. It takes time to dry thoroughly, usually over a year.
However, it depends on the thickness of the wood.
Is walnut wood Allergies/Toxicity?
Peruvian Walnut is also responsible for allergies like other species of walnuts such as English and black walnuts. Usually, the most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. So be careful while working with it, wear eye safety glasses and hand gloves.
Conclusion
Peruvian Walnut is a great Walnut species. It is used for furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments, and flooring. It is known for its deeper, rich chocolate brown color and straight grain.