If you have a new woodworking project coming up but are unsure of which wood to use, we’re here to help you out! Choosing the right wood for a project is paramount to a project’s success, as well as how long it lasts.
So, what is the difference between walnut vs maple wood? There are quite a few differences between walnut and maple wood, which means that they are best suited to their own specific uses. Walnut wood is easy to process and has good color and grain, whereas maple wood is durable and has good resistance to chipping.
You will need to consider all of the pros and cons of each wood type to pick out the one that’s best for your project. So, stick with us as we unravel the mysteries of walnut and maple.
All About Walnut Wood
Walnut wood is a much-loved wood that is used all over. It has a beautiful appearance with unique characteristics in its grain and tones. It is also an easy wood to work with, and it can be finished in many different ways.
There are over 30 types of walnut wood, each of which has its own appearance and personality. The most popular type of walnut wood used is European walnut, and then American walnut wood.
The appearance of walnut wood, and its hardness, is why it is such a popular choice to use for making furniture. It can also be used to make various small furnishings and novelties too.
For a visual woodworker’s guide to working with walnut lumber, take a look at this video from Woodworkers Source on YouTube.
All About Maple Wood
Maple wood is a beautifully versatile wood that has many different uses. It is a high-quality wood and the byproducts of the wood can be used too, such as maple syrup!
There are over 20 types of maple wood trees, most of them being found in Northern America. While there are over 20 types, there are two main types of maple wood referred to in woodworking, hard maple and soft maple. Hard maple, as the name suggests, is a stronger wood.
For a visual guide to maple lumber, take a look at this video from DIY With Dave on YouTube.
The Differences Between Walnut And Maple Wood
To help you better understand which would be the better wood for you to use, take a read through the below differences between the two types of wood:
Appearance
If you are making a piece of furniture or something to be displayed, then you would obviously want to choose the wood color that suits your project best.
Walnut
Walnut wood color can vary depending on the type of walnut tree used. It can vary from light gray to a very dark brown. There are also purple and red-toned walnut wood options too. The biggest stand out of walnut wood is the grain, which is very pronounced.
The grain of walnut wood can be flamed, striped, or even cloudy, and cutting the walnut wood diagonally can create a beautiful pattern.
Walnut wood can also have varying colors in itself, which can be very attractive.
Maple
Maple wood is a lighter color wood, which has a white or cream sapwood color and a light reddish-brown heartwood finish. The region where the tree was grown can also alter how much dark brown heartwood the wood has.
There is a fine and closed texture to maple wood, which often boasts a straight grain as well. The small variations of color between the different regions can be between yellow, grey, and slightly red.
Durability
The durability of the wood is really important to consider, especially if you are wanting your woodworking item to be long-lasting.
Walnut
Walnut is a naturally durable wood, and it is a fairly hard wood, so it can make strong and durable pieces. It is resistant to insect attacks and fungi, but it is susceptible to termites.
It is important to note that walnut has low water resistance, so it does need to be treated if it comes into contact with water. This means it is not a good choice to use to make garden furniture and should instead be used to make indoor pieces.
It is, however, resistant to heartwood decay, and it is a medium-density wood that is strong and sturdy.
Maple
Maple wood is a popular wood to use because it is dense and durable. It is stronger than maple wood, and it has a great ability to hold fasteners. It has a good bending rating, but it does shrink the most of all hardwoods.
It is used often on an industrial scale because of its durability, and it can be treated to be more durable for outside use too.
Workability
The workability of the wood refers to how easy it is to work with, and how well it works with different techniques, hand tools, and machines.
Walnut
Walnut has good workability, and it is an easy-to-use wood. It has a strong resistance to screwing, cutting, and joining, and holds up well to machines and hand tools.
It is a hardwood, which means it has good support against breaking or deforming while being worked with. Walnut can be easily processed by hand or with machines, and it can be sawed, turned, and peeled easily too. The surface of walnut also holds up well to staining and polishing.
Maple
The density of the maple wood determines how easy it is to work with, but generally, it has good workability.
Harder species of maple can make machine work difficult, and maple wood is known to burn and overheat when it is processed through high-speed cutters.
It is best to handwork maple wood where possible, to avoid burning. Other techniques such as finishing, turning, and gluing are all easy to do on maple wood, and it is a wood that holds fixings well.
Maintenance
Once again, a long-lasting piece will need some maintenance, and how much maintenance the finished piece will need depends on the type of wood used.
Walnut
Walnut is a long-lasting, durable wood, but as long as it is not exposed to the elements. It is best to regularly care for walnut wood to ensure it is long-lasting.
There isn’t much that goes into maintaining walnut furniture, other than keeping it free from dust and moisture and using a suitable polish to keep it looking great.
Maple
Maple cannot be maintained using polish or detergents, as this could damage the exterior of the wood. Instead, the surface of maple wood should be dusted with a microfiber cloth or vacuumed. Stains can be removed with a damp cloth and some warm water.
Price
Price is an important factor to consider before committing to a project, especially if you are going to be needing quite a lot of wood to complete it.
Walnut
Walnut is considered to be quite an expensive wood, and the type of walnut does determine how much you will pay. European walnut is one of the most expensive options, and it can cost a whole lot more than other hardwood options.
For this reason, walnut is often used as a veneer over a cheaper type of wood, to achieve the walnut appearance, but without having to spend too much money on using walnut for the whole project.
Maple
One of the reasons maple wood is so popular is because it is a fairly affordable wood. It grows in abundance and easily, which means it is not in such demand.
There are various types of maple wood that are more expensive, but it will be up to you to decide which type of maple wood you would be happy using.
Hardness
Both walnut and maple wood are hardwoods, but here are a little more on the hardness of each:
Walnut
Walnut is considered to be a hard wood with pronounced patterns. It is a very heavy wood and can reach a density of 650kg/cubic meter. The average density is around 610kg/cubic meter, which is a very dense and heavy wood.
Being dense means that walnut is very durable and can last for a very long time. It is resistant to changes in temperature as long as it is not exposed to excessive moisture.
Maple
Maple wood has a density of around 590kg/cubic meter, so it is less dense than walnut, but it is still considered a dense wood.
It is a hard, medium-weight wood that is great to use for everyday furniture and pieces. As the grain is fine on maple wood, it is best to not use it somewhere where there will be fluctuating temperatures. Keep it away from heat sources and from areas where the temperature changes drastically.
Sustainability
The sustainability of the wood is a factor that should be considered more often, and it is definitely something you should look into.
When it comes to maple and walnut wood, neither is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, meaning that both are fairly sustainable, and both are eco-friendly options to use.
The Pros And Cons Of Walnut And Maple Wood
Now that you are more familiar with the differences between the two, we can have a more specific look into each wood, and the pros and cons.
Walnut Wood
Pros:
- Beautiful dark natural appearance
- Good workability compared to other woods
- Durable wood that can last a long time
- Easy maintenance with a light polish
- Very stable, strong wood
- Easy to finish with a stain or polish
Cons:
- Cannot be used for outdoor pieces
- Not moisture-resistant and susceptible to environmental damage
- Fairly expensive compared to other hardwood types
- The weight of walnut can make it difficult to work with
- The grain can sometimes be irregular, making it difficult to match
Maple Wood
Pros:
- Very versatile wood that can be used for many purposes
- Light in color
- Can be stained very easily
- An affordable wood
- The hardness of maple makes it resistant to scratches and chips
- Good workability and finishes easily
- Very widely available
Cons:
- Not weather resistant so needs to be treated for outdoor use
- Can crack if exposed to elements
- Requires special, regular maintenance
- Only has minimum grain variation
- The light color of maple can fade over time
Most Popular Uses For Walnut And Maple Wood
To further help you pick out the best wood for your project, here are what the two types of wood that are most popularly used for:
Walnut:
Walnut wood is most popularly used to make indoor furniture, thanks to its beautiful appearance and durability. It is used for furniture, cabinets, and smaller novelties too. It is also a popular choice to make cutting boards, gunstocks, and other carvings.
- Luxury indoor furniture
- Veneers to cover other materials
- Cladding of walls or counters
- Interior carpentry for windows, doors, stairs, etc
- Bowls
- Musical instruments
- Floors
- Turning
- Handles and small objects
Maple:
Maple is popularly used to make types of flooring and is a good choice for dance floors and bowling alleys, along with normal residential floors. It is also great to use for countertops.
Maple wood is often used to make veneers, butcher blocks, musical instruments, and even baseball bats! Other maple items include cabinetry and various types of furniture found in the household. It is also extensively used to make pulpwood for paper.
- Furniture such as tables, chairs, and beds
- Art and inlays
- Paneling and molding
- Musical instruments
- Carving and turning
- Indoor carpentry for flooring, moldings, doors, and windows
- Toys
- Kitchen utensils
Walnut Vs Maple Wood
In a nutshell, the two kinds of wood, while both hardwoods are used for different purposes thanks to their different characteristics.
Walnut wood is very strong wood and is known for its beautiful appearance. It is durable and can last for a very long time if cared for properly.
The dark color of the wood, ranging from red to chocolate brown, is enhanced by the beautiful grain patterns it is found with. However, walnut wood is quite expensive and may amount to too much for one project.
Maple wood is also a strong wood that can take on stains and polishes really well. The light creamy color and tight grain make it a great option for flooring and furniture. It is a sustainable wood that is affordable too.
Both kinds of wood have good workability and are easy to finish.
Take your time reading through the differences between the two, and the pros and cons that either wood has, to try and find the one that would be best suited to your project. Choosing the right wood is so important to ensure your woodworking project turns out successful!
Related Questions
Why is walnut wood so expensive?
Walnut wood is considered an expensive wood, although it is not the most expensive wood around. It does have a higher price tag because it is more scarce than other types of wood, and it grows slower, so it does take longer to cultivate.
Is maple wood a good choice for furniture?
Maple wood is often used to make furniture as it is strong, durable, and easy to work with. Once maple wood is finished into a piece of furniture, it has a gorgeous look with the light creamy color that it has.
Does walnut wood have knots?
Walnut wood grows quite a few branches, which means that there can be a significant number of knots in the wood.
Some people love the appearance of knots, while others prefer that there are no knots on the wood depending on the project, they are using it for. The knots can also range in size from small to large.
