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Are Sap Streaks in Walnut Furniture Normal?
Yes, sap streaks naturally occur in walnut wood. This question is a lot more common than you might think. Walnut is one of the furniture industry’s most premium, highly sought-after wood species.
This post addresses any questions you might have regarding these streaks. Some people think they are a defect, and some wonder if they can order walnut furniture without the streaks.
We recently received a call from a customer wondering if the light-colored streak in their new walnut chair was a defect. So, today, we will explain why nature puts these artistic streaks into walnut wood and what you can do if you don’t want them.
What is Tree Sap?
Are Sap Streaks in Furniture Sticky?
What is Sapwood?
What Does Sapwood Look Like?
Is Sapwood a Flaw in Walnut Furniture?
How Can I Avoid Sap Streaks in my Walnut Furniture?
Select Heartwood-Only Walnut
This would require a special selection of only the tree’s heartwood. Remember, the heartwood is the inner part of the trunk, and the sapwood is on the outside of the trunk. You can select walnut heartwood only if the option is available on the product. It might read as “select walnut,” “premium walnut,” or something similar. That indicates that the sapwood has been removed from the heartwood. A select walnut piece would be heartwood only.
Custom Quote Request
Another option is to contact one of our trained furniture specialists. They can contact the builder of the particular product you are looking at and request a custom quote. The builder may or may not be able to offer an option to sort out the sapwood.
Be aware that many builders won’t be able to do this, which will cost more on material and cause more waste.
Choose a Darker Stain to Help Mute the Contrast
If you don’t like the contrast between the light sapwood and the darker heartwood, you can mute the contrast with a much darker stain.
Conclusion
People pay a premium for walnut wood because of its strength and durability, but also because of the unique and unpredictably beautiful wood grain. The sapwood is a vital part of the tree. Sometimes our builders will sign a handmade piece of furniture upon completion. We like to think of the sapwood streaks in walnut as a signature from Mother Nature.
More Walnut Resources
- 5 Best Stains for Walnut Wood
- Guide to Walnut Wood Furniture
- Walnut vs. Brown Maple
- Walnut vs. Cherry
- 10 Questions About Live Edge Furniture
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