Hickory

Fast Facts

Color: The color varies from light cream to a darker amber, and will darken slightly and amber over time. Always remember that exposure to UV light speeds the darkening/ambering process.

Grain: It is somewhat a rough texture.

Variations within Species and Grades: There are high levels of color variation within this species.

Hardness/Janka: This is rated at the number 1820. Hickory is about 41% harder than the traditional Red Oak.

Dimensional Stability: Hickory is slightly less stable than traditional Red Oak. This means it is more likely to move, swell and contract than other species. Avoid leaving standing water on the floor.

Sawing/Machining: It is difficult to saw with machinery or hand tools because of the hardness of this type of wood.

Sanding: The density of the wood also makes it hard to sand. The lighter color of the wood makes it harder to sand.

Nailing: Hickory is difficult to nail because it is easy to split the tongues of the wood.

Finishing: Finishing hickory wood may be difficult as it does not want to hold on to the stain, since the grain is closed. Using a treatment to open the grain a bit may help the wood in taking the stain.

A Brief History of Hickory

Nowadays hickory wood is used for tool handles, wheel spokes, golf club spokes, drum sticks, the bottom of skis, and more.

Baseball bats used to be made of hickory, but now manufacturers have switched to using ash. Hickory is also used to provide a smoky taste to many barbecue sauces.

There are species of hickory which produce nuts. Those are used in animal feed but are too bitter in taste for humans.

Durability

Hickory wood is known for the unique combination of strength, hardness, and toughness. It is also considered an extremely durable wood.

Workability

It is difficult to work with hickory since it is extremely dense. It is hard to sand, nail, and finish, as well.

When it is used for flooring and furniture, it is more expensive than others. Buying a prefinished hickory that has been dried completely will prevent any issues with finishing the floor.

Where to use

Hickory can be used in almost any setting because of its strength and durability. Furthermore, it has a rustic feel to it and it dries out much more than most other woods.

Hickory is perfect for installation in high traffic areas and where heavy objects may be dropped. The strength indicates that it is less likely to show visible damage.

Care and Maintenance

A hickory floor is stronger and more durable than most. Of course, this mean the owners shouldn’t treat it with maximum care.

We recommend you to use standard precautions including rugs and mats in highly trafficked areas to keep dirt and debris from scratching the surface. Clean with a cloth mop or vacuum at least once a week, and mop spills up immediately. In order to avoid potential damage, use cleaning solutions recommended for the finish only.

Environmental Issues

Hickory is generally found in the Eastern United States and it is not currently endangered.