Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionBlack Willow Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Black Willow is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameSalix nigra
Janka hardness430 lbf
Average dried weight26 lb/ft³
Best fitSmall specialty wood items
Overview
Why choose Black Willow?
Black Willow is a domestic hardwood species. Grows in the eastern United States. Used for small specialty wood items, carvings, furniture, crates, utility wood and baskets.
Scientific nameSalix nigra
DistributionGrows in the eastern United States
ShrinkageRadial: 3.3%, Tangential: 8.7%, Volumetric: 13.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.6
DurabilityIt is rated non-durable, even perishable, and is open to insect attack.
Black Willow colour, grain, and figure
The heartwood is reddish or greyish brown, sometimes marked with darker streaks. Sapwood ranges from white to tan and does not always have a clear edge against the heartwood.
The texture is uniform, medium to fine, and the grain is interlocked or irregular.
Working notes
Willow machines very poorly, since it is light and has interlocking grain, so fuzzy surfaces and tearout are frequent. Numerous drying defects are also typical, and it can be hard to season.
Willow wood (Salix) is linked to hardly any adverse health effects, though sensitizers are reported in the bark and other tree parts.
Black Willow should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Black Willow
Best projects
Used for small specialty wood items, carvings, furniture, crates, utility wood and baskets.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Black Willow from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Black Willow FAQ
What is Black Willow best used for?
Used for small specialty wood items, carvings, furniture, crates, utility wood and baskets. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Black Willow beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Black Willow?
The buying section on this page links to any Black Willow Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.