Butternut

Butternut and black walnut have a few things in common. Both are members of the juglandaceae family. They are so similar in looks that butternut is often called white walnut. Its other name, oil-nut, refers to the fruit of the tree, an edible nut that is very rich and oily.

Butternut is such a productive tree that even its bark is useful. It is a valuable furniture wood. Butternut sap makes sugar and syrup similar to that of the maple tree. Its husks also have been used to make medicine. The husks and bark provided the yellow and orange dye that early settlers used to dye clothing. It has the distinction of being frequently used for church altars. Other uses include high class joinery, interior trim for boats (good because of its natural oiliness) cabinet fittings, furniture, paneling, boxes and crates. Butternut is a woodcarver's favorite. It is available in lumber and decorative veneer form.

Although it resembles a light-toned walnut, it is the same weight as eastern white pine, approximately 28 pounds per cubic foot with a specific gravity of 0.45. Butternut is a straight-grained wood, coarse but soft in texture. Butternut nails, screws and glues very well. It finishes well and has a natural satin-like luster. Butternut has a low wood bending classification and in general is rated lower across the board in properties compared to its relative, American walnut.

Butternut trees are medium in size. The bark is light gray with broad, flat, diamond-shaped ridges. The distinctive leaves feature 11 to 17 sharply pointed leaflets. Both leaves and nuts are hairy and stick. Butternut timber is considered non-durable. A common enemy is the furniture beetle. Drying is not a problem with butternut. It dries slowly and shows little degrade. Machining with hand and power tools is very satisfactory. However, as with any soft wood, cutting tools must be kept sharp for maximum efficiency.