Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata · hardwood · Eastern North America · high movement
- Janka hardness 1,880 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 50 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.72 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 10.5%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 7%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.5 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The benchmark for shock resistance — axe handles, ladder rungs. Very hard, very heavy, and a big mover; sharp carbide and patience required.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for shagbark hickory across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 1/8″ (0.135″) | 3/32″ (0.090″) |
| 12″ | 9/32″ (0.270″) | 3/16″ (0.180″) |
| 24″ | 17/32″ (0.540″) | 3/8″ (0.360″) |
| 36″ | 13/16″ (0.810″) | 17/32″ (0.540″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to shagbark hickory:
Typical swings:
Shagbark Hickory questions
How much does shagbark hickory move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn shagbark 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 10.5% and radial 7% (green to ovendry) — a high-movement wood.
How hard is shagbark hickory?
Shagbark Hickory rates about 1,880 lbf on the Janka scale — noticeably harder than red oak (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 50 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is shagbark hickory good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.5:1 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
Wenge · Pecan (Hickory) · African Padauk · Black Locust · Pignut Hickory · Honeylocust
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.