Walnut vs White Oak
Natural Material · grade comparison
Walnut and White Oak are both natural material grades. Walnut is lighter (0.61 g/cm³ vs 0.76 g/cm³ for White Oak) and White Oak is stiffer (12.3 GPa vs 11.6 GPa). On the shop floor, Walnut machines more easily (excellent vs good).
WalnutChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part is machined in volume.
Walnut vs White Oak: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Mohs
Same in both: Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 100 MPa14.5 ksi · Elongation at Break 1.2%
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Same in both: Max Service Temperature (continuous) 90°C194 °F · Min Service Temperature -60°C-76 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Same in both: Embodied Water 600 L/kg71.9 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 5%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Walnut | White Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Walnut vs White Oak — frequently asked
What is the difference between Walnut and White Oak?
Walnut and White Oak are both natural material grades. Walnut is lighter (0.61 g/cm³ vs 0.76 g/cm³ for White Oak) and White Oak is stiffer (12.3 GPa vs 11.6 GPa). On the shop floor, Walnut machines more easily (excellent vs good).
Which is cheaper, Walnut or White Oak?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$, standard); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
Which is easier to machine, Walnut or White Oak?
Walnut. Its machinability rates excellent (88/100) against good (65/100) for White Oak.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Walnut and White Oak side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.