Common Names: hickory, shellbark hickory, big shagbark hickory, kingnut
Short Description: Hickory is a deciduous tree native to temperate regions. A hickory tree can grow up to 160 ft tall with a trunk diameter of 6 to 7 ft. It is normally straight grain with rare wavy patterns occurring in some wood. The color varies from creamy white with streaks of brown to tan.
Country of Origin: North America and Eastern Asia
Color: light to medium brown heartwood; pale brown sapwood
Janka Scale Hardness: 1820 lbf (8096 N)
Dried Average Weight: 41.6 lbs/ft³
Common Uses: cabinetry, flooring, sports equipment, drum sticks, textile, fishing rods, vehicle parts, skis, chair seats, wood fire, charcoal, tool handles
What Is Hickory Wood?
Hickory wood comes from various species of hickory trees. Hickory is considered one of the hardest and strongest woods in the United States. However, its heartwood may deteriorate faster than other woods when exposed to certain conditions. Hickory is also susceptible to insect attack. Generally, hickory is still stronger than hard maple and white oak and is an excellent shock absorber. Thus, it is still a go-to wood for some people.
Hickory has a straight grain and coarse texture. It can be hard to work with. It requires sharp blades to prevent tear out and quickly dulls new and sharp blades, too. It works well with glues, stains, and finishes. It also does well when steam bending.
Where Does Hickory From?
Hickory is a name given to trees from the Carya genus. In North America, 12 species are found in the United States, four in Mexico, and two to four species are in Canada. Meanwhile, five to six species are found in Asia, particularly in China, Indochina, and India.
Native species in the US and Canada include pecan, shellbark, bitternut, pignut, mockernut, and swamp hickories. When purchasing a hickory live edge slab or any piece of hickory wood, all species are labeled hickory. There is no clear distinction between each species in lumber stores.
Is Hickory a Softwood or Hardwood?
Hickory is a hardwood. It is named the hardest of all hardwoods, with a Janka rating of 1820. That said, hickory makes a great flooring option if appropriately installed because of its durability.
How Dense Is Hickory?
Hickory is a very dense wood. Its density is partly to blame for making it difficult to work with. Hickory live edge wood is harder and stiffer than white oak and hard maple slabs. Due to its density and hardness, hickory wood is used for things that absorb shock, such as drumsticks, floors, and baseball bats.
FAQs
Is hickory a good option for outdoor furniture?
Despite being strong and hard, hickory is not weather-resistant. Hence, it should not be used when making outdoor furniture. Once exposed to changing humidity levels and rainwater, hickory will become damp and rot. This will also lead to insect attacks, which hasten the wood’s deterioration.
Is hickory expensive?
Hickory prices depend on its quality. In general, however, hickory is in the midrange of domestic woods.
Is hickory a good choice for an amateur woodworker?
Hickory’s workability is pretty difficult, given its density. That is why it is not recommended for amateur woodworkers or anyone who doesn’t have enough woodworking skills.
Where to Buy Hickory
Purchasing a hickory wood slab is best done in specialty lumber stores such as Alderfer Lumber Company Inc. We have a wide inventory of slabs available. You can easily check our lumber inventory online if you need hickory live edge pieces.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, give us a call or email us so that we can check the availability at our warehouse.
We source sustainably, handle the slabs with care, and dry them meticulously to guarantee decades of use.
