Hickory, American

American hickory is considered one of the most important of the commercially available eastern USA hardwoods for its combination of strength, toughness, hardness, and stiffness.

Other Names

Red Hickory, White Hickory, Pecan, Pignut Hickory, Pignut, Sweet Pignut, Coast Pignut Hickory, Smoothbark Hickory, Swamp Hickory, Broom Hickory

Botanical Name

Carya glabra

Common Form
Sawn
Species Type
Hardwood
  • Overview

    • American hickory is a hardwood that is native to the eastern States of the USA. Its main commercial areas are the central and southern States. It is considered to be one of the most important trees of the eastern forests, due to its combination of strength, toughness, hardness and stiffness.

    The hickories are split into two botanical groups - the true hickories and the pecan (fruit bearing) hickories. However, the wood of both groups is almost identical and is usually sold together. Sapwood is white with a brownish tinge; heartwood is a pale to reddish brown. The texture is coarse and usually with a straight grain, however it can be wavy or irregular. Bird pecks and mineral streaks are common characteristics of the timber and are not considered to be defects.

    American hickory timber is quite difficult to work with hand tools or to machine and glue. It takes nails and screws well but care must be taken as it has a tendency to split. Pre-boring is recommended. The timber sands and polishes to an attractive finish.

    American hickory is most commonly used in tool handles, drumsticks, furniture, flooring, cabinetry, ladders, dowels and sporting goods. It is increasingly exported from the US as flooring, given its rustic appearance and naturally occurring hardwearing properties.

    Sawn American hickory timber is readily commercially available throughout the central and southern States of the US, but is yet to be imported into Australia in any significant quantities. Supplies are more limited if the timber is selected for its colour and sold as red or white hickory, or pecan.

    In Australia, American hickory is largely available as drumsticks, for which purpose it is considered the premium timber, or through special order for custom furniture or DIY. The pecan hickory is grown in Australia for its fruit.

     

     

     

    Shrinkage

    Very Low Low Medium High Very High
    Check mark Check mark

    Tangential : Provides a simplified rating for tangential shrinkage. This is the measure of the percentage reduction in dimension from the unseasoned to 12% moisture content condition.
    7.40%

    Radial : Radial shrinkage is perpendicular to the growth rings. It is shrinkage in the direction towards the centre of the tree. Measurement is % value
    4.70%

    Unit Movement Tangential: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.41%

    Unit Movement Radial: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.26%

    Strength Group Strength groups are given for unseasoned (S1-S7) and seasoned (SD1-SD8) timber in accordance with AS 2878. S1 and SD1 yield the highest strength and stiffness whereas S7 and SD8 yield the lowest.

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium High

    Medium

    Reasonably Low

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    S1

    S2

    S3

    S4

    S5

    S6

    S7

    S8

    Seasoned:

    SD1

    SD2

    SD3

    SD4

    SD5

    SD6

    SD7

    SD8

    Stress Grade A stress grade is defined in AS 1720 as the classification of timber for structural purposes by means of either visual or machine grading. The stress grade indicates the basic working stresses and stiffnesses to be used for structural design purposes. Measured in MPa.

    Structural
    No. 1    		 Structural
    No. 2    		 Structural
    No. 3    		 Structural
    No. 4    		 Structural
    No. 5

    Unseasoned:

    Seasoned:

    Density per Standard Seasoned density is based on moisture content of 12%. Unseasoned density is an approximation as it depends on the moisture content at the time of measurement. Measured kg/m3.

    Seasoned:

    805kg/m3

    Unseasoned:

    1090kg/m3

    Joint Group The joint group is a classification of the strength of a species in joint design. The values are from 1 (very high strength) to 6 (very low strength).

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    J1

    J2

    J3

    J4

    J5

    J6
    Check mark

    Seasoned:

    JD1

    JD2

    JD3

    JD4

    JD5

    JD6
    Check mark

    Colour The colour of seasoned heartwood can vary between species and often within a species. The information provided should be used as a general guide only. In most cases, the colour of sapwood is either a lighter shade of the heartwood or a white/cream colour.

      White, yellow, pale straw to light brown Pink to pink brown Light to dark red Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky
       
    Check mark

    Mechanical Properties

    Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    77

    Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    134

    Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    10.6

    Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    15

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:

    Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    31

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    61

    Impact - Unseasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.

    Impact - Seasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.

    Toughness - Unseasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.
    Low - up to 15 Nm

    Toughness - Seasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.
    Low - up to 15 Nm

    Hardness - Unseasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    6.8

    Hardness - Seasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    8.7

    Durability

    Low Moderate Reasonably High High
    (0 - 5 yrs) (5 - 15 yrs) (15 - 25 yrs) (more than 25 yrs)

    In-Ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.
    (0 - 7 yrs) (7 - 15 yrs) (15 - 40 yrs) (More than 40 yrs)

    Above ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.
    (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) (21 - 40 yrs) (41 - 64 yrs) (More than 60 yrs)

    Marine Borer Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to marine borer attack.

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: Indicates whether a species is susceptible (S) or not susceptible (NS) to lyctid borer attack.

    Susceptible

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other:

    Termite Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to termites.

    Fire Properties

    Bushfire Resistance: Naturally bushfire-resisting timbers are those with inherent bushfire-resisting properties. Some species have been tested and a number are in the process of being tested and are measured by Bushfire Attack level (BAL). BAL -12.5: Ember attack, BAL – 19: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers together with increasing heat flux between 12.5 and 19 kWm3, BAL – 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers together with increasing heat flux between 19 and 29 kWm3.
    Not tested
    Appearance

    The American hickory has sapwood of white tinged with brown and heartwood of pale to reddish brown. Its grain is usually straight but can be wavy or irregular on occasion. The wood is coarse in texture with bird pecks and mineral streaks a common occurrence that is not considered to impact on the quality of the timber.

    Common Applications

    The most common applications for American hickory are tool handles, cabinetry, furniture, flooring, wooden ladders, drumsticks and sporting goods.

    Workability

    Working with American hickory requires some care, as it is difficult to machine and glue. While it takes nails and screws well, it has a tendency to split so pre-boring is recommended. It has good strength and shock resistance, and good steam-bending properties. It sands and polishes well. It has a high shrinkage value and can be difficult to dry; this can affect the timber’s stability in conditions with variable moisture.

    Origin of timber
    North America
    Readily Available
    NSW
    While readily available as a commercial timber in the US, American Hickory is yet to be imported into Australia in any significant quantities. It is becoming popular around the world as a flooring material so availability in Australia may increase in the future.
    Source of timber
    Native Forest

    Are you looking for a supplier?

    Start Your Search

    Social Media Feeds