Hickory

Overview

Hickory is one of the hardest, strongest and toughest woods native to the United States, and a standard for tool handles, ladder rungs and wheel spokes. Wood Database says on average it is denser, stiffer and harder than white oak or hard maple. In furniture it brings a rustic, strongly figured two-tone look at a price similar to red oak, but it takes hard work to machine.

Pros

• Exceptional hardness and shock resistance: Janka 1,880 lbf for shagbark, up to 2,140 lbf for pignut, against 1,350 for White oak.
• Inexpensive: Wood Database says prices compare to utility hardwoods such as red oak or soft maple.
• Steam bends well and glues, stains and finishes well.
• The strong contrast between pale sapwood and darker heartwood gives a distinctive "calico" rustic look.

Cons

• Difficult to machine: tear-out is common unless edges are sharp, and the wood blunts cutting edges quickly.
• High shrinkage (7.0% radial, 10.5% tangential for shagbark), so movement is considerable.
• Non-durable to perishable for heartwood decay and very susceptible to insect attack.
• Heavy, at about 800 kg/m3. Pre-drill every fastener; screws can snap.

Variants and subspecies

• True hickories (shagbark, mockernut, pignut, bitternut) are sold together as "hickory". Wood Database lists shagbark at 1,880 lbf and 800 kg/m3, mockernut at 1,970 lbf and 815 kg/m3, and pignut at 2,140 lbf and 835 kg/m3. Bitternut is a related species with similar properties.
• Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is the other Carya group; Wood Database says it is "slightly stabler but weaker" than true hickories. See Pecan.
• Calico hickory: boards that mix heartwood and sapwood, sold deliberately for the contrast.
• Growth rate: Wood Database notes faster-grown wood with wider rings tends to be harder, heavier and stronger.

Working and finishing

Keep carbide sharp and expect to sharpen often. Take light passes on the jointer and planer, pre-drill screws, and use a slower feed on the router to limit burn. Glues well. Wood Database says it responds well to steam bending. Sanding is slow; use a sharp card scraper where the grain tears.

Staining and finishing colour

Wood Database reports hickory stains and finishes well. The colour contrast between sapwood and heartwood does not disappear under stain, so most people embrace it with a clear or lightly tinted finish. Dyes can reduce the contrast. Wood Database describes it as ring-porous.

Sustainability and handling

Wood Database lists Carya species as not in the CITES Appendices and not on the IUCN Red List; Wikipedia shows Least Concern for shagbark hickory (checked 2026-09-30). Wood Database notes that, beyond the standard risks of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with shagbark hickory or pecan. The US National Cancer Institute reports strong and consistent associations between wood-dust exposure and nasal and sinus cancers, so use dust extraction and a respirator. US timber falls under the Lacey Act. Wood Database also notes hickory is used as fuelwood and as charcoal for cooking meat.

Popular projects

Wood Database lists tool handles, ladder rungs, wheel spokes and flooring. In furniture it suits rustic tables, cabinet doors and bent parts, wherever impact and wear matter more than ease of work.

Buying notes

Sold as 4/4 to 8/4 and often as mixed hickory and pecan. Ask for sapwood-only boards if you want an even pale colour, or calico stock if you want contrast. Wood Database says it is usually priced in the low to mid range, depending on local availability. Buy flat, kiln-dried stock, as movement is considerable.