Collection: Yellow Walnut

Appearance of Yellow Walnut

The heartwood of yellow walnut ranges from pale to bright lemon yellow, while the sapwood, which can occupy up to 50% of the stem radius, is generally paler but difficult to distinguish from the heartwood. The timber has a straight grain with a moderately coarse texture and little to no figure. Occasionally, back-sawn surfaces may display attractive figures due to earlywood and latewood ring formation.

Common Applications of Yellow Walnut

Yellow walnut is versatile, finding applications in both decorative and light construction contexts. Decorative uses include furniture, plywood, joinery, paneling, carving, and turnery. In light construction, it is utilized for general house framing, flooring, linings, and mouldings. Despite its limited durability, its distinctive colour and workability make it a sought-after choice for these purposes.

Workability of Yellow Walnut

Yellow walnut is rated as firm (4 on a 6-class scale) in hardness, making it relatively easy to work with hand tools. However, its high silica content can be abrasive, dulling machine cutters and tools. It accepts standard fittings, fastenings, and glues satisfactorily. The timber also readily takes stains, polish, and paint, resulting in a high-quality finish.

Durability of Yellow Walnut

As a class 4 hardwood, yellow walnut has a limited life expectancy of five years for aboveground use and seven years for in-ground applications. It is not termite-resistant, and untreated sapwood is susceptible to borer attack. While the sapwood can be readily treated with preservatives, the heartwood resists impregnation.

Origin and Availability of Yellow Walnut

Yellow walnut is native to the rainforests of North Queensland, Australia, particularly in areas such as the Johnstone and Daintree Rivers and the Atherton Tableland. Due to conservation efforts, the commercial availability of this timber is now very limited.

Conclusion

Despite its restricted supply, yellow walnut remains a distinctive timber valued for its bright colour and workability, making it a preferred choice for decorative uses and light construction where durability is less critical.