Heavy-Duty Black Walnut Cracker
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$58.99
Item # A52207
- Cracks black walnuts, hickory nuts, butternuts, English walnuts & pecans
- Cast aluminum frame on a solid hardwood base
- Long ratchet lever does the hard work for you
- 6 lb 8 oz: stays put while you crack
- The same cracker we've sold for 30+ years
Black Walnuts Are Nature's Version of Fort Knox
You've tried the sledgehammer, the vise, maybe even backed your truck over them. This heavy-duty black walnut cracker is built for exactly that job.
The cast aluminum frame sits on a hardwood base, and the long lever and ratchet build pressure steadily until the shell gives. You get cracked walnuts, not walnut dust. It cracks just about any nut you put in it, from the toughest black walnuts and hickory nuts to butternuts, English walnuts and pecans.
This is the same walnut cracker we've been selling for over 30 years. It's imported, but the quality is the same as it's always been, and we keep choosing it because around here, a good tool that works forever at a good price matters.
Specifications
| Weight | 6 lb 8 oz |
|---|---|
| Frame | Cast aluminum |
| Base | Hardwood |
| Action | Lever with ratchet and return spring |
| Cracks | Black walnuts, hickory nuts, butternuts, English walnuts, pecans |
| Size | 16"L X 5"W X 8 3/4"H |
| Arrives | Fully assembled |
| Origin | Imported |
| Item # | A52207 |
Parts of the Black Walnut Cracker
- 1
Lever handleThe long cast handle gives you the leverage. Pull it down to crack.
- 2
Ratchet teethLet the lever step forward a notch at a time, building pressure gradually.
- 3
Drive linkCarries the force from the lever to the push rod.
- 4
Return springPushes the rod back after each crack, ready for the next nut.
- 5
Cracking headsHex heads cradle the nut and split the shell instead of smashing it.
- 6
Adjusting boltThreaded so you can set the gap for small hickory nuts or big black walnuts.
- 7
Cast aluminum frameHeavy-duty channel that holds everything in line and catches shell pieces.
- 8
Hardwood baseKeeps the cracker steady on the table or bench.
- 9
Spare boltsExtra bolts included with the cracker.
How to Use the Walnut Cracker
-
Load the nut
Set a hulled walnut between the two cracking heads.
-
Pull the lever
The ratchet builds pressure a little at a time until the shell cracks.
-
Pick the nutmeat
Release the lever, remove the nut and pick out the meat.
Watch It Crack Black Walnuts
Avery Beamer cracking local black walnuts with the same cracker we still sell today.
Black Walnuts: From Tree to Table
The seven steps from tree to nutmeat, with roughly how long each one takes.
- 1
Mid-Sept – Oct
Watch the tree
Black walnuts ripen inside round green husks about the size of a tennis ball, and drop on their own when ready.
- 2
As they fall
Gather
Pick them up off the ground before the squirrels do. A Walnut Picker Upper saves your back.
- 3
Days to 2 wks
Wait for the husk to turn black
The green husk softens and darkens. That's your signal it's ready to come off.
- 4
Wear gloves
Remove the husk
Scrape it off (a rock works fine). The husk stains hands for days.
- 5
About a month
Let them dry
Spread them out somewhere airy. It takes about a month, longer if the weather is humid.
- 6
Any time after
Crack
Set the nut in the Black Walnut Cracker and pull the lever. No sledgehammer needed.
- 7
Black Walnut Cracker FAQs
Will this really crack black walnuts?
Black walnuts are nature's version of Fort Knox. You've tried the sledgehammer, the vise, maybe even backed your truck over them. This cracker is built for exactly that job: a cast aluminum frame on a hardwood base, with a long lever that does the hard work for you.
What nuts will it crack?
Just about any nut you put in it: black walnuts, hickory nuts, butternuts and macadamia nuts, plus softer shells like pecans and English walnuts. If it has a hard shell, this cracker will open it.
How much does it weigh?
6 lb 8 oz. It's heavy enough to stay put while you crack, and light enough to carry out to the porch.
How do I use it?
- Put the hulled nut between the two cracking heads.
- Pull the lever down. The ratchet builds pressure steadily until the shell gives.
- Release, pull out the cracked nut, and pick out the nutmeat.
How long until the walnuts I collect are ready to crack?
This question has started more fights between husbands and wives than anything else we sell. Everyone has an opinion. Here's what we do:
- Wait until the green husk turns black.
- Scrape the husk off (a rock works fine).
- Let the nuts dry for about a month. It depends on the humidity.
Some folks swear by letting them dry with the hull on. Others say that just makes the outside go moldy. We'll let you settle that one at home.
Can I crack walnuts that aren't fully dry?
Yes. The photos on this page were taken the weekend we picked these walnuts, and they weren't dry yet. The cracker opened them anyway. For the best flavor, and nutmeat that comes out of the shell more easily, let them dry first.
Do I need to remove the husk first?
Yes. Crack only hulled nuts. Wear gloves when you remove the husks, because black walnut husk stains your hands for days.
Where is it made?
It's imported. It's the same nut cracker we've sold for over 30 years, and the quality hasn't changed. We keep choosing it because around here, a good tool that works forever at a good price matters.
How do I take care of it?
Keep it lubricated, as the label on the frame says. A few drops of oil on the spring rod and moving parts keeps the lever smooth for years.
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