Black Willow
Salix nigra
Hardness
Very soft, dents easily; great for carving, poor for floors.
Overview
A soft, lightweight utility hardwood historically used for boxes, crates, and artificial limbs.
Commonly built
- Crates
- Utility boxes
- Carving blanks
Appearance
Grayish-brown to reddish-brown, with a fairly plain, straight grain.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Soft and easy to cut, but somewhat fuzzy or woolly when machined, sand progressively for a clean surface.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn black willow panel moves roughly 0.48 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Black Willow move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Black Willow?
Black Willow has a Janka hardness of 420 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Black Willow suitable for outdoor use?
Black Willow is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Black Willow to work with?
Black Willow has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Black Willow move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn black willow panel moves roughly 0.48 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used black willow, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.