bitternut hickory

jackpine · June 03, 2006, 09:35:49 PM

I sawed a large, for this area, bitternut hickory today, 20" small end. It had a lot of dark spots and streaks in the heartwood and places that seemed to be bark inclusions.

Is this normal for hickory or perhaps because this was a yard tree, maybe the result of damage over the years?

I'd like to be able to inform my customer as I have no prior experience with any hickory of this size.

Thanks, Bill

woodbeard · June 03, 2006, 09:44:33 PM

Quite normal. I see that all the time in that type of hickory. My guess is that is from sapsucker pecking? Then the area around the hole gets discolored and heals up with something barklike? I'd be interested to know for sure what does it.

oakiemac · June 04, 2006, 08:07:40 AM

That is very normal and it makes it hard to get good grade boards with Hickory. I don't know how anybody makes money selling grade Hickory. Every little bark inclusion or pin knot is a defect. I sell all mine as character grade Hickory and I think those imperfections really add to the lumber. I really love how the white sap wood and the dark heart blend together especially if you have a lot of bark inclusions. I'm going to have my whole living room made from Hickory like that.

woodbeard · June 04, 2006, 02:42:12 PM

I agree. In fact, I think hickory is kind of boring looking otherwise. That's going to be a nice looking room!

wesdor · June 04, 2006, 03:25:29 PM

I know a wood turner that looks for bitternut hickory with the dark spots. He turns some of the most awesome bowls you have ever seen. I see that you are in Wisconsin(I'm in Illinois) - if you ever come across more of the hickory - especially with woodpecker holes, let me know and I'll put you in contact with Roger.

He recently showed off a hickory "container" that was made from a rotten piece of hickory. We called it "air turning" since there was more air than wood. After he was done, it looked like a piece of art.

ARKANSAWYER · June 04, 2006, 04:49:37 PM

We are going to have to get a grader in on this. I did not think that pecker pecks in hickory was a defect? ??? But the spots that you are talking about is from sapsuckers and peckers working on the hickory. Quite common here in both Bitter and Mockernut hickories.

Ron Wenrich · June 05, 2006, 05:50:21 AM

I think if its bark inclusion, than its a defect. If its just a dark spot, than its not a defect. We sell a couple of Mbf of hickory per month as well as hickory veneer. Those dark streaks aren't pulling down the grade. Markets for hickory are stronger than red oak.

Larry · June 05, 2006, 04:20:02 PM

First ya have to define bird peck so here it is straight from the rule book:

"A patch of distorted grain resulting from birds pecking through the growing cells in the tree and sometimes containing a hole and/or ingrown bark."

I dunno...in the 3 day short course we talked quite a bit about bird peck. If the hole is over 3/8" yeap a defect. If smaller than 3/8" goes by nother rule. Has to cover more than 1/12 of the clear cutting areas but will only reduce the board by 1 grade. Chief Inspector said this defect is rarely called because...how do you calculate the amount of pecks?

oakiemac · June 05, 2006, 11:01:52 PM

Ron what are you getting for FAS Hickory? 1comm? Used to be only about 78cents around here but that was a few years ago.

Ron Wenrich · June 06, 2006, 05:10:00 PM

I'll have to check on it. I saw it a couple of weeks ago, and it seems that the hickory was approaching red oak, which has fallen on hard times. Soft maple is worth more than red oak.

SwampDonkey · June 06, 2006, 05:20:27 PM

There's gotta be something wrong there. Red maple here is 90 % pulp. No one even wants it for firewood unless it's for a kitchen stove. :

It's getting hard to find a good red maple that isn't stump sprouted and ripped up along side the bole by moose.

oakiemac · June 06, 2006, 11:03:17 PM

We ain't got too many Moose ;D
Red Maple is becoming hot and I like that since I got a lot of it.

DoubleD · June 07, 2006, 09:04:07 AM

Sorry to hijack the topic but I'd like to know which species is bitternut hickory since the Carya genus count a lot of species ??? ??? ???

Ron Wenrich · June 07, 2006, 04:46:31 PM

Bitternut hickory - Carya Cordiformis Bitternut hickory is the only member of the pecan group found in the northeastern US.

Hickory prices in my area are about $800/Mbf for the uppers, $650 for 1 Com, and $450 for 2 Com. I have also heard they are making flooring from hickory, so maybe there is a market for some 3 Com.