Hickory
Hickory, a hardwood belonging to the Carya genus, is native to North America. It's celebrated for its exceptional strength, durability, and distinctive grain patterns.
Appearance and Characteristics
Hickory wood varies in color, typically ranging from pale, almost white sapwood to reddish-brown heartwood. One of its standout features is its pronounced, bold grain patterns that can be wavy, straight, or irregular, adding character to the wood. Hickory is moderately heavy, typically weighing around 4.6 to 5.3 pounds per board foot (1045 to 1202 kilograms per cubic meter).
Workability
Hickory is known for being a tough and dense wood, which can make it more challenging to work with. However, it can be machined, cut, and shaped with proper tools and techniques. It's highly durable and offers excellent shock resistance, which is particularly useful for applications where impact resistance is crucial. The wood stains and finishes well, allowing for various finishing options.
Uses in Woodworking
Hickory wood is utilized in various woodworking projects, including:
-
Furniture: Hickory is a favored choice for crafting rustic and durable furniture, including chairs, tables, and cabinets. Its strength and unique grain patterns make it suitable for both functional and decorative furniture components.
-
Flooring: Hickory is a preferred wood for hardwood flooring applications, especially in areas with high foot traffic. Its durability and ability to withstand wear and tear make it ideal for this purpose.
-
Cabinetry: It is often used in cabinetry, providing both strength and a distinctive appearance. It is particularly popular for kitchen cabinets.
-
Tool Handles: Hickory is known for its shock resistance, making it an ideal choice for tool handles such as hammers, axes, and other striking tools.
-
Sporting Goods: Hickory wood is used in the construction of sports equipment like baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, and archery bows due to its strength and shock-absorbing properties.
Durability
Hickory wood is known for its exceptional durability:
-
Indoor Use: Hickory is suitable for indoor applications, particularly for furniture, cabinetry, and flooring. Its natural strength and ability to resist wear and moisture make it an excellent choice.
-
Outdoor Use: While Hickory is generally not recommended for outdoor use due to its limited resistance to moisture and weather, it can still be used for certain outdoor projects with proper finishing and maintenance.
-
Bug/Insect and Rot Resistance: Hickory is naturally resistant to insects and decay, contributing to its longevity and durability in various applications.
VARIATIONS AND OPTIONS
All lumber now ships surfaced on 2 sides, and ripped on 1 edge at a minimum. Surfacing is done to a 1/16th over nominal (+- .030). Also the option for a rip to width is now available for a premium price. Ripping is done on an industrial straight line/gang rip machine. While the rip will be consistent end to end, the fence may not always end up in the same spot between orders. Rip widths will be within 1/8th of an inch of stated widths.
4/4 will be surfaced to 13/16ths. 5/4 will be surfaced to 1 and 1/16th. 6/4 6/4 will be surfaced to 1 and 5/16ths. 8/4 will be surfaced to 1 and 13/16ths. 10/4 will be surfaced to 2 and 5/16ths. 16/4 will be surfaced to 2 and 13/16ths.