Ron Altier Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 When I was turning some of those Easter eggs, I did find out one thing about Hickory wood. It is listed as one of America's hardest woods and therefore I figured a good candidate for the chatter/stutter tool. Not so much, at least for the Hickory I got at HD. Having never used it before, I didn't know what to expect. It was hard but the more open grain in between the hard grain.........tore out easily. I don't know if it is a trait of Hickory or it was just the piece I got. The Maple reacted much better to the chatter tools. Anyone ever turn Hicklory? Quote
Stick486 Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 31 minutes ago, Ron Altier said: It was hard but the more open grain in between the hard grain.........tore out easily. I don't know if it is a trait of Hickory or it was just the piece I got. that's Hickory... there are 7 or 8 basic Hickories, often pecan gets thrown into the mix to make up quantity which is then called hickory... Hickory and Pecan are as close to each other as two different woods can be.. you can call them twins if you like...... since pecan is more common in a lot of locales and you got your wood at home desperate, you very well may have turned pecan Hickory has a medium texture w/ the pores being medium-sized and open... (the trait you are asking about)... it's a bit difficult to work, tearout and splintering is/are a common thing/trait during machining if you don't keep your cutting edges really sharp.. The wood also tends to dull/blunt tooling like right now.... Hey... but it does glue, stain, and finishes well.... great stuff to steam bend Pecan... reads the same as Hickory... Ron Altier and HARO50 2 Quote
Gene Howe Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) Must be the locale and/or the type of pecan but, your description of it's workability doesn't match my experience. Mine comes from cultivated groves of soft shell pecan. I grab it before its cut into firewood. It's not nearly as ornery as hickory. More like walnut or some mesquites in its workability. But, turning it might be a different story. Edited February 22, 2017 by Gene Howe HARO50 and Ron Altier 2 Quote
HandyDan Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 I have a 4"X4"X4' piece of hickory but have never turned it yet. Not much of it around here I guess. Quote
Steve Krumanaker Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 In my experience, for being considered an open grain wood, hickory has a very tight pattern. I enjoy turning small items from it. With that, I have never tried to do any texturing on it. Steve Quote
Gerald Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 Of note is that hickory and pecan are in the same family. Therefore properties are similar. I have turned a fair amount of pecan and till you get there you do not know what you will find. Hickory I have not worked with as yet. Gene Howe and HARO50 2 Quote
Gene Howe Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 1 hour ago, Gerald said: Of note is that hickory and pecan are in the same family. Therefore properties are similar. I have turned a fair amount of pecan and till you get there you do not know what you will find. Hickory I have not worked with as yet. And that's part of the fun with it. HARO50 1 Quote
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