Shop Hickory

Edensaw Woods is Seattle-Tacoma, Washington's leading supplier of high-quality hickory domestic wood, serving local home construction, furniture-making, woodworking, sporting goods, and specialty vehicle parts. Explore our large selection of hickory domestic woods and consult with our knowledgeable staff, who will gladly assist you in selecting the supplies you need for your specific project.

Hickory is a broad classification that includes several species such as shagbark hickory, pecan hickory, and bitternut hickory. These trees are native to the United States and Canada and are found throughout North America. Hickory wood is distinguished by its pale to medium brown heartwood, which frequently has a reddish or golden hue. The grain pattern is typically straight, but it can be wavy or irregular on occasion, adding to its visual appeal. Hickory is prized for its sharp contrast between its light sapwood and dark heartwood, which makes it ideal for rustic woodworking and furniture making.

Hickory Technical Specifications and Uses

• Janka Hardness: Hickory is one of the hardest and strongest domestic woods available, boasting a Janka rating of approximately 1820 lbf. This superior hardness provides excellent resistance to denting and wear.
  
  
• Shock Resistance: The wood is highly resistant to sudden impact and shock, a quality derived from a superior balance of stiffness, hardness, and density. This makes it superior for handles and striking tools.
  
  
• Density: With an average density of 51 lbs/ft^3, it is one of the densest commercial woods available.
  
  

Working and Fabrication Challenges - Due to its extreme density, Hickory demands specific handling methods:

• Cutting: High-speed steel (HSS) or carbide-tipped blades are essential for both ripping and cross-cutting. Standard blades will dull quickly due to the wood's density.
  
  
• Fastening: Pre-drilling is mandatory for all screwing or nailing operations, especially near the ends of boards. Failing to pre-drill will likely result in bent fasteners or splitting the wood.
  
  
• Gluing: Hickory typically glues well, but all surfaces must be planed or freshly sanded immediately prior to glue application to ensure the best adhesion to the dense fibers.
  
  

Hickory's appearance is defined by the high contrast between its sapwood and heartwood:

• Color Variation: The sapwood is creamy white, while the heartwood is medium to dark brown. Most Hickory flooring and rustic cabinetry utilizes this dramatic two-tone appearance for a bold, distinctive look.
  
  
• Grading: If a uniform color is desired (e.g., for formal millwork), grading specifically for "calico" (mixed color) or for "select and better" (mostly heartwood or sapwood) is necessary, often increasing the cost.
  
  

While highly durable, Hickory is not suitable for all environments:

• Moisture Absorption: Hickory is a highly stable wood but is not naturally rot or insect resistant when exposed to the elements. It should be used exclusively for interior applications or treated with chemical preservatives for exterior use.
  
  
• Fire Resistance: Due to its density, Hickory is highly resistant to ignition and burns slowly, making it one of the better domestic hardwoods in terms of structural fire performance.
  
  

Here are some of the most common applications for domestic hickory wood:

• Tool handles: Hickory is the standard wood for the handles of tools like hammers, axes, and picks due to its unmatched shock resistance.
  
  
• Flooring: Hickory is a hard wood that is suitable for flooring in high-traffic areas where denting and abrasion are major concerns.
  
  
• Sporting goods: Baseball bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, and other sporting goods requiring high strength and durability are made from hickory.
  
  
• Furniture: Hickory is a popular wood for making furniture, especially in rustic or traditional styles where the high sapwood-heartwood contrast is desired.
  
  
• Vehicle parts: Historically, hickory was used in the manufacture of a variety of vehicle components, including wheel spokes, truck bed floors, and wagon tongues.
  
  

If you're looking for a specialty hickory domestic wood supplier, look no further. Serving the Seattle-Port Townsend-Tacoma and greater Pacific Northwest area, Edensaw Woods (Edensaw.com) stands as your trusted local domestic & exotic supplier and local rough sawn & surfaced lumber supplier. From our Port Townsend-Tacoma, Washington, USA, locations, we offer a wide selection of top-quality domestic wood and lumber, alongside marine and cabinet grade plywood, wood veneer, hardwood flooring, and specialty decking, all essential for professional and hobbyist cabinet, marine, and construction projects. We pride ourselves on stocking premium local lumber varieties, including popular choices like alder, ash, basswood, beech, and birch. Our selection also highlights beautiful hardwoods like cherry, hickory, and walnut, as well as reliable softwoods such as fir and aromatic tennessee cedar. We offer an extensive range of maple options, including maple (eastern) and maple (western), plus detailed oak selections. These include standard red oak, dimensional red oak riftsawn-quartersawn, classic white oak, and premium white oak riftsawn-quartersawn, providing the ideal grain structure for your specific project. Explore our full array of products and professional services by connecting with us via contact us.