Black Walnut vs Mahogany
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) and Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) are two woods people often weigh against each other. Black Walnut is the harder of the two at 1010 lbf on the Janka scale, versus 800 lbf for Mahogany, which affects how each handles wear, tools, and denting.
| Property | Black Walnut Juglans nigra | Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hardwood | Hardwood |
| Cost | $$$ · Premium | $$$$ · Exotic |
| Hardness | 1010 lbf | 800 lbf |
| Workability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Seasonal movement | Small | Small |
| Outdoor-friendly | No | No |
| Origin | Domestic (North America) | Imported (Central/South America) |
| Commonly built | Live-edge dining tables, Gunstocks, Jewelry boxes, Mid-century furniture, Cutting boards (accent) | Acoustic guitars, Boat trim & decking, Antique-style desks, Carved cabinets, Humidors |
| Overview | America's premier furniture wood. Rich chocolate color straight off the tree, a dream to work, and stable once dry. | The legendary furniture wood, stable, easy to work, and beautiful. Increasingly costly and subject to sourcing/sustainability concerns. |
Finishing
Black Walnut
Needs no stain, its natural chocolate color is the whole point, and an oil or oil/varnish finish makes it glow. Moderately open grain can be filled for a smooth film finish or left for a more natural look. Sapwood is pale and sometimes steamed at the mill to blend it. Expect the rich brown to lighten and mellow toward honey under UV over years; a UV-inhibiting finish slows this on pieces near windows.
Mahogany
A premier finishing wood: takes stain and dye evenly, and its open grain is traditionally filled (often with a dark filler for a classic look) before a film finish for a glass-smooth surface. Beautiful under oil, shellac (French polish), and lacquer. Color deepens and reddens with age and light. A joy to finish.
Want to weigh these against a third wood, or compare different species? Use the interactive comparison tool.