American willow

Salix nigra

General Description

The sapwood of willow varies according to growing conditions and is light creamy brown in colour. In contrast, the heartwood is pale reddish brown to greyish brown. The wood has a fine even texture and, although generally straight grained, it can sometimes be interlocked, or display figure.

Other Common names

Black willow, swamp willow

Distribution & Availability

Eastern USA. Principal commercial areas are the Middle and Southern States, along the Mississippi river. Reasonable availability on a regional basis as lumber and veneer, although availability in exports markets may vary and may be restricted to certain grades and thinner stock.

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Physical & Mechanical Properties

The wood is weak in bending, compression, shock resistance and stiffness, with a poor steam bending classification.

American willow - Physical & Mechanical Properties

Specific Gravity (12% M.C.):	0.39
Average Weight (12% M.C.):	417 kg/m3
Average Volume Shrinkage (Green to 6% M.C.):	11.50%
Modulus of Rupture:	53.800 MPa
Modulus of Elasticity:	6960 MPa
Compressive strength (parallel to grain):	28.300 MPa
Hardness:	N/A

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Working Properties

Willow works fairly easily with hand and machine tools, but care is needed to avoid a fuzzy surface when interlocked grain is present. The wood nails and screws well, glues excellently, and can be sanded and polished to a very good finish. It dries fairly rapidly with minimal degrade, although may be susceptible to moisture pockets. Dimensional stability is good when dry.

American willow - Working Properties

Sawing	Good
Planing	Good
Drilling	Good
Boring	Good
Turning	Good
Carving	Good
Moulding	Good
Nailing	Good
Screwing	Good
Gluing	Excellent
Finishing	Excellent

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Main Uses

Furniture, joinery, interior mouldings, panelling, doors, sports equipment, kitchen utensils and toys. In some European markets, such as Italy, willow is increasingly used with a stain to reproduce the lighter tones of European walnut.