Walnut vs oak
Both oaks are harder and heavier than black walnut, and both move more across a flatsawn board; white oak moves the most.
- White oak is about 35% harder than black walnut.
- White oak is about 24% heavier than black walnut.
- White oak has about 37% more movement across a flatsawn board than black walnut.
- Northern red oak is about 28% harder than black walnut.
- Northern red oak is about 15% heavier than black walnut.
- Northern red oak has about 11% more movement across a flatsawn board than black walnut.
Each column is the species its page leads with: black walnut for walnut, northern red oak for red oak.
Side by side
| Property | Walnut | White oak | Red oak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 1,010 lbf | 1,360 lbf | 1,290 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 38.5 lb/ft³ (616 kg/m³) | 47.5 lb/ft³ (762 kg/m³) | 44.1 lb/ft³ (706 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | 0.55 | 0.68 | 0.63 |
| Tangential shrinkage | 7.8% | 10.5% | 8.6% |
| Radial shrinkage | 5.5% | 5.6% | 4.0% |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.197 in | 0.271 in | 0.219 in |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.137 in | 0.14 in | 0.099 in |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 14,600 psi | 15,200 psi | 14,300 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.68 million psi | 1.78 million psi | 1.82 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 7,580 psi | 7,440 psi | 6,760 psi |
One source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the authority for species properties it measured
Wood Handbook Tables 5-3b, 4-3 and 13-5; weight and movement worked with its Eqs. 4-14 and 13-3. A dash means the Handbook prints no value.
What sets them apart
- Grain
- Walnut is normally straight grained and well suited for natural finishes. Oak shows its pores (open in red oak, plugged with tyloses in white oak heartwood) and broad, conspicuous rays on quartersawn faces. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-9 to 2-10)
- Stability
- The Handbook calls black walnut stable in use; it gives the red oaks fairly high shrinkage on drying. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-9 to 2-10)
- Uses
- Walnut goes into furniture, architectural woodwork, decorative panels, gunstocks and cabinets. White oak goes into tight barrels, boat parts, furniture and flooring; red oak into flooring, furniture and millwork. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-9 to 2-10)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.