Appalachian Species & Grades

Hickory

Other Common Names: Shagbark Hickory, Pignut Hickory and Mockernut Hickory One of the strongest, hardest and most-dense of our Appalachian hardwoods, Hickory is used for applications that require sheer strength and high shock resistance. The sapwood of hickory is white, tinged with brown, while the heartwood is pale to reddish brown. Hickory has coarse texture and usually straight grain, but can be wavy or irregular. Hickory is a traditional choice for cabinetry and furniture with lots of character. Hickory is also used in tool handles, dowels, ladders, picks and axes, sporting goods, and flooring.
Grades Available:

Properties

  • Machining3
  • Nailing3
  • Screwing3
  • Gluing3
  • Finishing7

Properties of Hickory

Hickory rates above average in most working properties, except in shaping and nail-holding ability. It can be difficult to machine and has a moderate blunting effect on tools. Hickory has excellent bending properties and accepts stains and finishes very well.

How does it compare

Lumber
(12 % moisture content)
MachiningSandingFinishingGluingFastening/
Nailing/
Screwing
Weight
per bdft
Specific
Gravity
(Density)
Hardness
(Janka)
Bending
Strength
(MOR)
Bending
Stiffness
(MOE)
Dimensional
Movement
(Shrinkage)
R (%)
Dimensional
Movement
(Shrinkage)
T (%)
Alder101010972.45.415909,8001,3804.47.3
Ash9109863.56.611,32015,0001,7404.97.8
Basswood10109882.50.374108,7001,4606.69.3
Beech8810883.69.641,26014,9001,7205.511.9
Birch10810823.53.621,26016,6002,0107.39.5
Cherry10910973.07.5295012,3001,4903.77.1
Hickory377334.14.671,82013,7001,7304.98.9
Hard Maple9810943.73.641,45015,8001,8304.89.9
PC Maple9910952.74.5085010,7001,4503.77.1
Soft Maple8910953.19.5595013,4001,6404.08.2
Red Oak (Northern)10109973.64.631,22014,3801,7614.08.6
White Oak9109773.94.681,35014,3801,7624.48.8
Poplar9810962.81.4354010,1001,5804.68.2
Walnut989773.36.561,01014,6001,6805.57.8