Janka hardness, workability, shrinkage, grain, and typical uses for common woodworking species.
| Species | Janka (lbf) | Workability | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Black WalnutBlack Walnut | 1010 | Good (4/5) | Furniture, Cabinetry, Gunstocks |
| Hard MapleSugar Maple | 1450 | Average (3/5) | Flooring, Cutting Boards, Butcher Blocks |
| Red OakNorthern Red Oak | 1290 | Average (3/5) | Flooring, Furniture, Cabinetry |
Janka hardness measures the force (lbf) required to embed a 0.444″ steel ball halfway into the wood surface (ASTM D143). Higher numbers indicate harder, more dent-resistant wood. Shrinkage values are percent change from green (freshly cut) to oven-dry — tangential shrinkage (across the flat grain) is always higher than radial.