Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra · hardwood · Eastern North America · high movement
- Janka hardness 2,140 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 52 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.75 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 11.5%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 7.2%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.6 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Among the hardest domestic woods, with movement numbers to match. Reserve it for parts that take abuse, not wide glued-up panels.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for pignut hickory across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 5/32″ (0.148″) | 3/32″ (0.093″) |
| 12″ | 9/32″ (0.296″) | 3/16″ (0.185″) |
| 24″ | 19/32″ (0.591″) | 3/8″ (0.370″) |
| 36″ | 7/8″ (0.887″) | 9/16″ (0.555″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to pignut hickory:
Typical swings:
Pignut Hickory questions
How much does pignut hickory move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn pignut hickory board moves about 9/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/16″. Its tangential shrinkage is 11.5% and radial 7.2% (green to ovendry) — a high-movement wood.
How hard is pignut hickory?
Pignut Hickory rates about 2,140 lbf on the Janka scale — noticeably harder than red oak (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 52 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is pignut hickory good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.6:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Persimmon · African Padauk · Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) · Wenge · Shagbark Hickory · Pecan (Hickory)
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.