Butternut (White Walnut)
Juglans cinerea
Hardness
Very soft, dents easily; great for carving, poor for floors.
Overview
Walnut's soft, pale cousin, buttery to carve and warmly colored. A carver's favorite, though too soft for hard-wearing surfaces.
Commonly built
- Carvings
- Picture frames
- Furniture
- Altars
Appearance
Light tan to golden-brown with a satiny luster and a coarse but attractive grain resembling a washed-out walnut.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Soft and exceptionally easy to carve and work with any tool. Takes detail well. Too soft for floors or surfaces that take abuse. Glues and finishes beautifully.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn butternut (white walnut) panel moves roughly 0.35 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 Butternut (White Walnut) move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Butternut (White Walnut)?
Butternut (White Walnut) has a Janka hardness of 490 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Butternut (White Walnut) suitable for outdoor use?
Butternut (White Walnut) is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Butternut (White Walnut) to work with?
Butternut (White Walnut) has Excellent workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Butternut (White Walnut) move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn butternut (white walnut) panel moves roughly 0.35 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Walnut's soft, pale cousin: works and finishes easily and its light golden-brown tone glows under a clear oil finish, no stain needed. Somewhat open, coarse grain can be filled for a smooth film finish or left for a more natural look. Soft enough that it dents, so a protective film finish helps on surfaces that see wear. A favorite carving and relief wood that takes finish kindly.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used butternut (white walnut), reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.