If you're trying to crack tough nuts like black walnuts, the Black Walnut Nut Cracker from Grandpa's Goody Getter could be worth checking out.
The manufacturer says this cracker is specifically designed for those hard shells, and it claims to work with almost any nut that fits into its press—up to 99% of them, which is kind of impressive.
From what we've found, people mostly praise it for being sturdy and effective on those tough nuts. One person mentioned it being the best they've used for hickory nuts and black walnuts, saying it's really sturdy and easy to use.
But it's not all perfect. Some folks have noted that you might need to put in a good amount of force, especially if it hasn’t been lubricated like the instructions suggest.
There are also some mentions of problems if you're not careful with mounting and maintaining it properly, especially when you're using a lot of pressure.
Oh, and one more thing—consider the size of the nuts you're aiming to crack. Bigger ones might not fit perfectly in the press, which was highlighted in the product description. Keeping an eye on these details can really impact how well it works for you.
In the end, the Black Walnut Nut Cracker generally seems like a solid choice for tackling black walnuts, as long as you keep up with maintenance and follow the recommended guidelines.
It's effective and appreciated by many, but taking care of it and being aware of its limits will help you get the most out of it.