The Test Cut

Wood Species

Hickory/Pecan

Carya spp. (incl. C. ovata, C. illinoinensis)

Janka hardness
1820 lbf
Specific gravity
0.72
Workability
Difficult — tearout is common unless tools are kept very sharp; excellent for steam bending
See Hickory/Pecan with a finish on itPreview oils, poly, shellac and more on this species in the Finish Simulator — plus the sanding plan each one needs.
A board of Hickory/Pecan, showing the sharp natural contrast between reddish-brown heartwood and pale cream sapwood the same board often carries.
A board of Hickory/Pecan, showing the sharp natural contrast between reddish-brown heartwood and pale cream sapwood the same board often carries.

Hickory and pecan are close enough relatives in the genus Carya that the lumber trade sells them interchangeably — the properties and appearance overlap too much to bother separating. Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) alone tests as hard as 1,880 lbf on the Janka scale, putting it among the hardest woods native to North America.

Working Properties

Hickory doesn't make this easy: it's dense, and tearout shows up fast unless your cutting edges are genuinely sharp. What it's actually built for is toughness and shock resistance, and it takes to steam bending better than almost anything else domestic. Once you're through machining it, gluing, staining, and finishing all go smoothly.

Typical Uses

Tool handles (especially striking tools like hammers and axes), ladder rungs, drumsticks, and other high-impact applications, plus flooring and furniture.

Images

A board of Hickory/Pecan, showing the sharp natural contrast between reddish-brown heartwood and pale cream sapwood the same board often carries.

Raw Wood: A board of Hickory/Pecan, showing the sharp natural contrast between reddish-brown heartwood and pale cream sapwood the same board often carries.