If you are looking to build something around your home, whether for basic construction purposes, furniture, or anything in between, there is rarely a better material you could use than solid wood. There are, however, many different types of solid wood for you to choose from.
Two very popular types of wood that you might use are rosewood and walnut. These two do share some similarities, but there are also differences between them, and this is exactly what we are here to figure out today. Let’s get to it and determine which of these woods is best used for various projects.
What Is Rosewood?
There are many different types of rosewood out there, and they generally all refer to richly hued timbers that are usually quite dark brown in color. This is a type of hardwood, and here we are talking specifically about Brazilian rosewood. This is one of the most prominent and popular types that is most commonly used.
Brazilian rosewood is listed as an endangered species, so it is quite hard to come by, and it is often sold illegally for huge costs. Yes, there are other types of rosewood, including Indian and Madagascar rosewood, although the Brazilian type is the most popular one. As you can probably tell by the name of it, a defining feature is that it does indeed smell like roses.
The wood is also known for being very heavy, dense, hard, and overly durable. It is very resistant to many types of damage. Brazilian rosewood is also extremely moisture-resistant and pest-resistant, so it doesn’t easily rot or decay, and it works well for outdoor purposes.
It is usually quite dark brown in color, almost like dark chocolate, but it may also have a purple or reddish-brown hue, along with dark contrasting streaks, which may sometimes form a spider web pattern.
The texture of Brazilian rosewood is quite coarse, along with a uniform and straight grain which may at times be interlocked or spiraled. Rosewood is most often used for making small decorative pieces, indoor furniture, and musical instruments. This is a very expensive type of wood, so it’s not something that you would use for large construction projects. Rather, it is something most commonly used for smaller specialty pieces.
What Is Walnut?
We then have the walnut tree, and here we are talking specifically about the eastern black walnut, which is a deciduous hardwood tree that can be found throughout eastern Canada and the eastern United States. This is a very large tree, as it can grow up to 150’ tall. The walnut tree is also very hard and is in fact one of the harder types that can be found in North America.
It is just very hard, dense, and durable overall, and has great structural soundness, which means that it is ideal for indoor furniture, basic construction needs, framing, and more. It is also very resistant to denting and scratching.
At the same time, eastern black walnut contains a good deal of natural oils, so it is also somewhat resistant to moisture, pests, and the elements in general. Walnut, therefore, makes for a good option for both indoor and outdoor projects.
However, it is mostly used for indoor purposes, specifically for making veneers, cabinets, furniture, floors, carvings, and more. In terms of appearance, walnut has a very deep and dark brown color, almost like coffee or chocolate. Walnut has a very tight and straight grain, although it may be curvy or wavy at times, and it also has some voids, gaps, and knots. Walnut wood is also very slow growing, is not very sustainable, and is therefore quite expensive as well.
Rosewood vs. Walnut: What Are the Differences?
Now that we know what both rosewood and walnut are, let’s figure out what makes them different from each other.
Hardness
Walnut is a very hard type of wood, as it features a Janka hardness rating of 1,010 lbf. However, Brazilian rosewood is much harder, as it comes in at 2,790 lbf. As you can see, Brazilian rosewood is nearly three times as hard as walnut, which makes it much more resistant to physical impacts, scratching, and denting. It is therefore technically the better option for high-traffic areas and indoor furniture.
Density
Walnut is also a fairly heavy type of wood, as it comes in at roughly 43 lbs per cubic foot. Brazilian rosewood, on the other hand, is even heavier, coming in at roughly 52 lbs per cubic foot. As you can see, rosewood is therefore substantially heavier than eastern black walnut. This does in part lend to its increased durability and structural soundness, but because it is much heavier, it can also be harder to work with.
Pest and Moisture Resistance
Walnut is generally considered to be quite durable, and it may be used for outdoor purposes if properly treated and sealed. However, on its own, walnut is not the number one most moisture or pest-resistant type of wood in the world.
If we had to choose one of these two for outdoor use, it would be Brazilian rosewood, especially because it is a tropical hardwood that is used to being in moist conditions with many pests. Brazilian rosewood is a rather perfect option to use for outdoor projects as it is extremely resistant to the elements.
Overall Strength and Durability
When it comes to the overall strength and durability of these two types of wood, Brazilian rosewood is definitely the stronger and more structurally sound of the two. It has a higher stiffness level, bending strength, and compressive strength too. In general, it’s just going to last longer and be able to take more punishment.
Workability
Although rosewood is really a great type of wood to use, it can be hard to work with. Because it has so many natural oils, it can be hard to stain and paint. It’s also very heavy and hard, which makes it difficult to lift, and saw blades tend to have trouble with it as well. Walnut can also be difficult to work with due to its weight and propensity to have a lot of knots, although it does tend to be easier to work with than its Brazilian counterpart.
Appearance – Color and Grain
What is interesting is that both of these types of wood look somewhat similar to each other. These types of wood are a very dark and rich brown, kind of like coffee or chocolate. However, Brazilian rosewood has a more defined grain pattern and more color variation. Walnut has a dark base color, but the black streets in rosewood are usually darker. Generally speaking, most people would say that Brazilian rosewood is the better-looking of these two materials.
Cost
Both of these types of wood are very expensive, with Brazilian rosewood costing up to $70 per board foot, and walnut costing up to $25 per board foot.
When to Use Rosewood?
If you are making musical instruments, decorative pieces, or any kind of high-end furniture, rosewood is always a good option to consider. It is ideal for both indoor and outdoor purposes, it’s super durable, and it looks very nice too. Just remember that it is extremely expensive, so it’s probably not something you would use for large-scale applications.
When to Use Walnut?
If you need a very hard, solid, and durable type of wood that is more than suitable for indoor applications, both for furniture and high-traffic areas, as well as for cabinets, decorative pieces, and everything in between, walnut is a good option to consider. That said, walnut is not quite as moisture resistant, so it’s not as ideal for outdoor use as rosewood, but the big upside is that it costs about a third as much.
For more information, you might also want to read our article about the advantages and disadvantages of walnut.
Alternatives to Rosewood and Walnut
Both of these types of wood are very expensive. If you need something that is a bit more affordable, you can try going for spruce, cedar, poplar, pine, or many other types of softwood. In fact, most types of wood are much more affordable than Brazilian rosewood.
For more walnut alternatives, check this article.
Summary
Now that you know what makes rosewood and walnut different from each other, you can make an informed choice between the two. What it really all comes down to is that both are excellent choices in most regards, while also both being quite pricey.