From the Workshop · No. 15
Maple vs Walnut: Two Reliable Workhorses
Our side-by-side comparison of the two woods we'd recommend to most people, from turning both in our workshop.
If ebony and olive are the showpieces, maple and walnut are the dependable classics. We turn both often, and they suit slightly different people.
| Hard maple | Black walnut | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (Janka, reference) | ~1,450 lbf | ~1,010 lbf |
| Color | Pale cream to honey | Chocolate to dark brown |
| Grain | Fine, even, subtle | Straight to wavy, visible figure |
| Pores | Very small, closed | Medium, more open |
| Stability | Good | Excellent |
| Weight | Moderate–heavy | Moderate |
Maple
Maple is harder and tighter-grained, with almost invisible pores. On our bench it’s one of the easiest woods to seal to a completely smooth, even surface. Its clean, light look is understated. Our Dawn is our most affordable and most beginner-friendly design.
Walnut
Walnut is a joy to turn: it cuts cleanly, sands well and barely moves with humidity. Its pores are more open than maple’s, so it needs extra care with grain-filling during sealing. The reward is a rich, deep tone under gloss. Our Arc is the classic.
Which one we’d pick for you
- If you’re new to wooden toys, or want something slim and light-colored, choose maple.
- If you want the classic wooden look, with a bit more warmth and figure, choose walnut.
Properly sealed, either one will last for years.
