HICKORY
Family: Judlanaceae

Other Names:
Pignut hickory, mockernut hickory, shellbark hickory, shagbark hickory, red or white hickory (USA).

Distribution:
S. Eastern Canada and Eastern United States.

General Description:
Typically straight grained, but may be wavy or irregular, with a rather coarse texture.

Color:
The heartwood is brown or reddish brown and sold as red hickory, and the sapwood sold separately as white hickory.

Weight:
Averages 820 kg/m3 (51 lb/ft3).

Specific Gravity:
0.82.

Mechanical Properties:
•  Bending strength – High
•  Crushing strength – High
•  Stiffness – High
•  Resistance shock loads – Very high
•  Steam bending - Excellent

Seasoning:
Dries rapidly with little tendency to warp or twist, but with a risk of shrinkage.

Working properties:
A rather difficult wood to work, with moderate to severe blunting of cutters. A reduction of cutting angle to 20 degrees necessary when planing irregular grain. Pre-boring for nailing is required, and gluing can be difficult. Stains and polishes to a good finish.

Durability:
Non-durable. Trees and logs liable to attack by forest longhorn beetle. Sapwood liable to attack by powder post beetle. Moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Uses:
•  Striking-tool handles
•  Hammers
•  Picks
•  Axes
•  Ladder rungs
•  Vehicle bodies
•  Drum sticks
•  Tops of heavy sea fishing rods