What to do with Hickory?

mesquite buckeye · January 09, 2014, 10:07:39 PM

Shagbark hickory cuts about the same a bur oak for me. Not that bad if it is still moist. It does like to move. Maybe dance would be more accurate, but it is really pretty.

They are selling a lot of hickory cabinets in the big box stores right now. Seems like it has gotten popular. ;D That's OK, I have lots. ;D 8) 8) 8)

WDH · January 09, 2014, 10:51:05 PM

I have swore off hickory

.

mesquite buckeye · January 09, 2014, 10:53:29 PM

Too bad. It's real purdy.

HAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

WDH · January 09, 2014, 10:58:41 PM

Just because somebody is pretty does not make them easy to live with

.

mesquite buckeye · January 09, 2014, 11:02:05 PM

If they are pretty enough, it might just be worth it. ;D

kensfarm · January 09, 2014, 11:24:49 PM

Quote from: Greg Brown on January 09, 2014, 09:11:59 PM
This is a hickory kitchen cabinet job I did.

Greg.. that is some nice work.. can I ask what something like that would cost? The heart wood always looks like a picture of a tree to me.

marcusthgault · January 10, 2014, 02:13:16 AM

Hickory or even Pecan being non-existent in Northern Ireland, I cannot comment.
However the remark about sparks sounds familiar to anyone in NI who has ever cut Hawthorn, particularly dead or seasoned Hawthorn.
I figgered the bark was trapping air borne or birds nest grit in some fashion.
Having observed such fine sparks when cutting apparently clean otherwise Hawthorn in the gloaming (= twilight)
But now understand from the Hickory comment that some specis lay down Silica particles (=hard sand) in their bark or timber.
Is this correct?
Marcus
PS
Hawthorn is also absolutly prime firewood.

Ron Wenrich · January 10, 2014, 06:23:49 AM

I've cut a fair share of hickory on a circle mill. Some of it saws really hard and some of it saws fairly easy. It depends on species. Sometimes you the log will change as you saw through it.

We get a lot of bitternut hickory, and that is difficult to even get the bark off of it. That has lots of tension and will pull the saw. Doesn't matter if it green or dry. It wants to really pull the saw. I often end up doing a lot of turning and taking a lot of shim cuts.

We also do get some pignut and mockernut hickory. Those tend to saw fairly well. They debark easier. The general rule for us is if it debarks decent, then the sawing won't be so bad. I don't recall sawing any shagbark.

I remember being on an Aussie board one time where they were making fun of Americans claiming they were sawing hardwoods. They felt that hickory was one of their intermediate hardwoods. I don't think any of them were running band mills.

The market for hickory isn't too bad. We've sold a lot of grade. The yield isn't quite as high on hickory as it is on red oak. I remember when it rarely showed up in the yard. I sawed for many years without sawing much hickory, because of poor markets. Those markets have changed, because it does make really nice cabinets.

ffpup · January 10, 2014, 07:02:14 AM

For what its worth Hickory is hard on equipment!! It dulls chains and blades. My two cents is get you a sharp chain cut it up, split it let it dry for about 6 months. Then find you a big pig cooker, get a pig and cook it. Call all you buddies and have a big cook out. ;D If you have some hickory left cook another pig.

ancjr · January 10, 2014, 07:29:01 AM

Being that Hickory is so hard on equipment, I'll make an offer to you all. Bring your Hickory to me, and I will dispose of it safely and properly at no charge. :D

Seaman · January 10, 2014, 07:55:37 AM

ffpup, you set a date for this pig cookin yet ????
Frank

WDH · January 10, 2014, 08:06:06 AM

Greg,

The hickory cabinets are beautiful. The contrast between the sap and the heart is amazing.

ffpup · January 10, 2014, 09:39:34 AM

Quote from: Seaman on January 10, 2014, 07:55:37 AM
ffpup, you set a date for this pig cookin yet ????
Frank

No but if we can get some of that hickory from woodenhead I'm in 8)

Mountain Guardian · January 10, 2014, 12:05:28 PM

I still have two three hundred pound hogs in the barn that I haven't slaughtered out yet.................. I feel a barbi comin on..... lol

Bert · January 10, 2014, 02:46:01 PM

I have a love/hate relationship with hickory. I have hickory cabinets in the kitchen and love them, but hate sawing it on the mill. Hickory has come up in value though for the last year. A lot of it can be sold as Grade lumber. Im even getting 70-80 cents a board feet now as sawlogs.

Greg Brown · January 10, 2014, 07:30:59 PM

Greg.. that is some nice work.. can I ask what something like that would cost? The heart wood always looks like a picture of a tree to me.
[/quote]

Kensfarm, I charged $3100 for that job. I refaced the existing crummy looking cabinets with new faceframes, doors and drawer fronts.

drobertson · January 10, 2014, 07:59:42 PM

Ron is so right on his assessment of some being more difficult than others. I have fought green, while sawing dried out hard just fine, then, just the opposite. It surely has plenty of character worth the battle when all is said and done. david

WDH · January 10, 2014, 08:03:18 PM

Greg,

That was a bargain for the homeowner.

reswire · January 10, 2014, 08:25:58 PM

Quote from: Greg Brown on January 09, 2014, 09:11:59 PM
This is a hickory kitchen cabinet job I did. I ALWAYS make sure I have all my cutter blades and saws good and sharp before doing hickory.

Did you do the floors also?? Looks extremely nice! Makes me wish I had a decent shop and more talent with a power tool. You da man. :new_year:

sawdusty1 · January 10, 2014, 09:48:29 PM

No more hickory for me either. It does weird things after it has been sawed.

mikeb1079 · January 10, 2014, 10:21:37 PM

i've only sawn up a few hickory trees, but the sawing part actually went pretty well, using wm 4 degree bands. the drying part?........let me just say:

smiley_monkeyfight

smiley_horserider

yep, that about got it. :D :D

(where's meadows miller when you need him?)

LeeB · January 10, 2014, 10:30:51 PM

Good question, where is Meadows Miller?

Greg Brown · January 11, 2014, 07:44:27 PM

Quote from: WDH on January 10, 2014, 08:03:18 PM
Greg,

That was a bargain for the homeowner.

This job was for a friend, a VERY good friend.
I did not do the flooring, that is too much up and down on my old knees, even for a very good friend.

kensfarm · January 11, 2014, 10:46:18 PM

Thank you Greg. I have pretty crummy cabinets too.. press wood. I'll be taking them out at some point .. my project at making the kitchen bigger is in the works.. but I've been working on replacing the barn floor lately. If you have other pictures.. it would be great to see some more of your carpentry.

Greg Brown · January 12, 2014, 09:01:33 PM

Quote from: kensfarm on January 11, 2014, 10:46:18 PM
Thank you Greg. I have pretty crummy cabinets too.. press wood. I'll be taking them out at some point .. my project at making the kitchen bigger is in the works.. but I've been working on replacing the barn floor lately. If you have other pictures.. it would be great to see some more of your carpentry.

Thanks for the kind compliments Kensfarm. My wife would have killed me if I had done the barn's floor before her kitchen. you can view my gallery here on the forum to see some of my work.