When we set out to build a phone stand that would last a lifetime, the choice of material wasn’t arbitrary. We tested over a dozen hardwoods before settling on American black walnut (Juglans nigra), and the reasons go far deeper than aesthetics.
Walnut ranks 1,010 on the Janka hardness scale — hard enough to resist dents and scratches from daily use, but not so hard that it’s brittle or difficult to work with hand tools. That balance is rare.
The grain structure of walnut is what woodworkers call “straight to slightly wavy,” which means it machines cleanly and accepts oil finishes beautifully. The natural oils already present in the wood give it a built-in resistance to moisture — important for something that sits on your desk near drinks and condensation.
Perhaps most importantly, walnut is dimensionally stable. It doesn’t expand and contract dramatically with changes in humidity the way oak or beech can. This means the precision-milled angles on your Termka stand stay true, season after season.
And then there’s the colour. Walnut heartwood ranges from a rich chocolate brown to a warm purplish-black, with lighter sapwood creating natural contrast. No two pieces are identical. Every stand has its own character, its own story written in the grain.
We source our walnut from sustainably managed forests and buy from UK timber merchants who can trace the chain of custody. It costs more than cheaper alternatives, but it’s the right thing to do — for the product and for the planet.