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walnut vs maple

by Lavonne Parisian Published 4 years ago Updated 2 years ago

The differences between maple and walnut trees are:

  • Maples produce a sweet sap that is often used to make syrup, while walnuts produce a bitter sap that is not suitable for...
  • Maple leaves are typically arranged in pairs, while walnut leaves are alternate.
  • The fruit of a maple tree is a samara (or key), while the fruit of a walnut tree is a nut.

Walnut is a softer wood than Maple. The benefit of this is that a knife will be much less likely to dull when using this wood, but there is a tradeoff since the softer wood is easier to scratch or dent. Its medium to large pores offer some resistance to bacteria and moisture but not as much as Maple.Dec 3, 2019

Full Answer

Which Wood is harder maple or walnut?

Walnut is a softer wood than Maple. The benefit of this is that a knife will be much less likely to dull when using this wood, but there is a tradeoff since the softer wood is easier to scratch or dent. Its medium to large pores offer some resistance to bacteria and moisture but not as much as Maple.

Which is more stable maple or walnut?

Walnut cabinets dent and scratch more easily than maple, which is almost bulletproof. Maple cabinets accept stain. Walnut or black walnut, as it is sometimes referred to, is named appropriately and even though it also accepts stain, it will not change significantly when stain is applied.

How to make maple look like walnut?

What can substitute for Walnut?

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Is Maple an expensive wood?

Maple wood is also widely available since it mostly comes from the abundance of maple trees that are in the U.S. and Canada. It’s one of the most widely available and affordable woods on the market. Even though maple wood is one of the less expensive woods, that doesn’t mean its quality is any less worthwhile.

Is maple stronger than walnut?

John Boos & Co. As you can see in the accompanying graph, rock maple is the hardest of these four hardwoods - about 15% harder than red oak, which ranks second. Black walnut ranks third in hardness - about 20% below red oak. Cherry is another 5% or so softer than walnut.

Is maple or walnut more expensive?

Walnut is more expensive as it is a bit rarer due to natural limitations such as size. Ash, Maple, and Cherry are more abundant as they grow larger but have highly sought after aesthetics in the grain which make them less expensive than Walnut but more expensive than some hardwoods.

What is the difference between maple and walnut?

Maple vs Walnut Appearance The color of the maple species is slightly lighter and the grain is generally straight, fine, even texture. Although some maple pieces may be wavy and knotty. The color of walnut wood is slightly darker. Its color varies from light brown to dark brown.

Why is walnut the best wood?

Characteristics and Qualities of Walnut WoodStable and hard.Strong and durable, yet not heavy.Dense with good shock resistance.Easy to work with for turning and carving.Nails and glues well.Exhibits good bending qualities.Finishes well.A fine, fairly straight grain.More items...•

Which wood is the strongest?

Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale.

Is walnut a good wood?

Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.

Is walnut wood expensive?

Unfortunately, yes. Walnut wood is quite expensive, though it's not the most expensive wood type on earth. The main reason walnut is pricier than most other hardwoods (and softwoods) is that it's scarcer and tends to grow slower. Thus, the demand way exceeds the supply.

Which wood is better for furniture?

One of the types of high-quality wood used for making furniture is teak wood as it is durable and highly fire-resistant. Other types of wood include rosewood, deodar, oak and mahogany.

Maple vs. Walnut

Maple is an incredibly strong wood that stains well and looks good. Its main attraction is the light, creamy color and smooth, tight, grain that offers a fine finish to furniture and flooring.

Maple: Background

You will find hard maple growing in the northern region of the United States and Canada. Other than its value for lumber, the sap of the maple tree is the main ingredient of maple syrup. And let’s not forget that the maple leaf is the main feature of the Canadian national flag.

Walnut: Background

You can find several varieties of walnut trees, only a few grow in the United States. The most prominent species and the one we discuss today is eastern black walnut, (Juglans nigra). We also call it American black or just American walnut.

Maple vs. Walnut: Appearance

Maple is best known for its light, creamy color with a fine, straight, and smooth grain. You may also get occasional waviness and a few knots which adds to the appeal of the wood if worked well. A unique variation of maple is spalted maple.

Maple vs. Walnut: Durability

Despite its hardness and fine grain pattern, maple has a low level of durability. Black walnut on the other hand has high durability in terms of resistance to moisture and rot. But it does not stand up to insect attacks.

Maple vs. Walnut: Workability

Maple and walnut share many common properties and they are both equally workable. They respond well to hand and machine tools. However, you may find some sections with irregular grain difficult to work with for both woods.

Maple vs. Walnut: Price

Maple is reasonably priced but hard maple tends to be a bit more expensive than the softer varieties. Specially figured maple like birdseye, curl, or spalted also cost more.

Maple

Maple (Acer) is a large genus (about 132 species) of shrubs or trees in the family Sapindaceae. About 70-80 species of maple are found in Asia and the rest of the species are found in Europe, Northern Africa, and North America.

Walnut

Walnut (Juglans) is a nut tree of the genus Juglans (family Juglandaceae ). Seeds are referred to as walnuts. Nuts are most commonly used as food. It is native to North and South America, southern Europe, Asia, and the West Indies. There are about 21 species of walnut. The properties of these species are almost the same.

Maple vs Walnut Wood Uses

Wood is used on the basis of its physical properties. Several species of walnut and maple are available. Each species has its own specialty, they are used on the basis of these characteristics.

Maple vs Walnut Wood Workability

Maple and Walnut are both hardwood species, the hardness of both is almost the same. Their workability is also almost the same. They are fairly easy to work with hand and machine tools

Maple vs Walnut Appearance

The color of the maple species is slightly lighter and the grain is generally straight, fine, even texture. Although some maple pieces may be wavy and knotty.

Maple vs Walnut Wood Pros and Cons

All wood species have some flaws and properties, it is important to be aware of their properties before using them.

Which is heavier, maple or walnut?

The one maple with the tighter growth rings is definitely heavier and more stable. Walnut is very beautiful and comes in many different kinds of sub species the same is true with maple whether Western Big Leaf, Eastern Red Maple or Hard Maple.

What is the best wood for gun stocks?

I have heard many discussions of what is the best wood for gun stocks maple or walnut. Some people mention that maple is brittle and not as strong or stable as walnut. This is far from the truth! We build custom guitars our neck woods are exclusively curly hard maple or Birdseye maple and so many manufacturers of some of the best guitars in the world as well as violins, cellos and other stringed instruments make there necks bodies and tops out of maple not walnut because maple is far superior in stability and hardness as well as tone. It holds checkering and carvings extremely well. The only drawback is that it is heavier in weight than walnut and because it is harder work ability is not as easy as walnut.#N#This is not exclusive to all maples though in the picture on this page you will see 2 samples. The top is Western Big Leaf Maple which is 5 to 6 growth rings per inch then you have curly hard maple from the Northern climates which is 22 to 25 growth rings per inch. The one maple with the tighter growth rings is definitely heavier and more stable. Walnut is very beautiful and comes in many different kinds of sub species the same is true with maple whether Western Big Leaf, Eastern Red Maple or Hard Maple. Birdseye maple in blank form has become some of the rarest and hard to get species of wood in the Western Hemisphere a lot less common than any of the Walnuts. If you look for walnut gun stock blanks you can find many on the internet however Birdseye maple blanks there is usually none or very few. Many maples come in one of a kind figure whether Fiddleback, curly, Birdseye, Quilted, Flame, Burl and many of there variations. Figured maples when properly finished can be literally spectacular looking.

Is birdeye maple rare?

Birdseye maple in blank form has become some of the rarest and hard to get species of wood in the Western Hemisphere a lot less common than any of the Walnuts. If you look for walnut gun stock blanks you can find many on the internet however Birdseye maple blanks there is usually none or very few.

What is a walnut?

Walnut is a straight-grained hardwood that ranges from chocolate brown (when it's from the center of the tree) to yellow (from the outer portion of the tree). A top pick for head-boards, ornate antique-style dining tables, and mantels, walnut is typically clear-coated or oiled to bring out its color.

What is the color of walnut?

Walnut. Walnut is a straight-grained hardwood that ranges from chocolate brown (when it's from the center of the tree) to yellow (from the outer portion of the tree). A top pick for head-boards, ornate antique-style dining tables, and mantels, walnut is typically clear-coated or oiled to bring out its color.

What is cherry wood?

Cherry is a hardwood with a fine, straight grain that ranges from reddish brown to blond. It is often used for carved chairs but also shows up in clean-lined Shaker-style tables and cabinets. Pros: It's easily shaped, and it polishes well. Unstained, it has a rich, beautiful color. Cons: Cherry wood is expensive.

What is the hardest wood to build?

Maple. Maple is a creamy white hardwood that sometimes has a reddish tinge. One of the hardest wood species, maple is often chosen for heavy-use items, like dressers and kitchen cabinets. Pros: Maple is affordable and ultra-durable. It can take a beating and look great for years.

What is the grain of oak?

Oak is a hardwood that tends to be very grainy. There are two varieties: red oak, which ranges from light brown to pinkish red with a swirling, waterlike pattern, and white oak, which has a tiger-stripe grain with yellow rays and flecks. Oak is often used in pieces made in the Arts and Crafts or Mission style.

Why is maple stained?

It can take a beating and look great for years. Because it takes dark stains well, maple is often stained to mimic a pricier wood, like cherry or mahogany (which is a controversial pick itself because of deforestation in the regions where it's harvested).

What is the color of oak wood?

Oak wood color. Credit: John Lawton. Oak is a hardwood that tends to be very grainy. There are two varieties: red oak, which ranges from light brown to pinkish red with a swirling, waterlike pattern, and white oak, which has a tiger-stripe grain with yellow rays and flecks.

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