Hickory Hardwood Technical Species Information
Detailed scientific and mechanical properties for Hickory Hardwood Lumber
Hickory
The distinctive and numerous shades of brown inherent in a Hickory hardwood floor create remarkable contrasts that, along with its intricate grain patterns, are nothing short of spectacular. Not only is Hickory flooring naturally striking in the aesthetic sense, but it is also the hardest of all North American woods. Hickory flooring has been admired for quite some time in the U.S. and abroad for both its beauty and strength, being traditionally used for decorative paneling and furniture veneer as well as for tool handles and pallets. Because of this combination of durability and powerful color contrasts, Hickory makes a versatile and attractive flooring material well-suited for any style of home.
American Hickory, Pecan Wood Properties
- Janka Hardness
- 1,820 lbf
- Modulus of Rupture (MOR)
- 13,700 psi
- Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
- 1,730 ×1000 psi
- Density
- 620 kg/m³
- Tangential Shrinkage
- 8.9%
- Radial Shrinkage
- 4.9%
- Botanical Family
- Carya spp
- Tree
- A large tree with a massive trunk which reaches heights of 160-ft. Lives up to 350 years.
- Distribution
- North America
- Other Names
- Pecan Carya spp, Bitter pecan, Hickory, Pecan hickory, Sweet pecan, Nutmeg Hickory, Bitternut, Bitternut hickory, Swamp hickory, Water hickory, Wild pecan, Bitter pecan Nogal morado, Nuez encarcelada
American Hickory, Pecan Characteristics
Color
Cream, brown, and white with streaks of tan.
Texture
Medium
Grain
Grain is usually straight, though occasionally wavy, with a medium texture.
Luster
Low
Durability
Excellent
Drying
Moderate
Workability
Difficult to work, with tearout being common during machining operations if cutting edges are not kept sharp; the wood tends to blunt cutting edges. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Applications
Tool handles, ladder rungs, wheel spokes, flooring, etc.
Photosensitivity
Limited
Hickory is among the hardest and strongest of woods native to the United States. On average, Hickory flooring is denser, stiffer, and harder than either White Oak or Hard Maple. The wood is commonly used where strength or shock-resistance is important.