Working with hickory

Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article





	Today's Sponsors: Mereen-Johnson Machine Company Merritt Woodwork Microvellum Middle Valley Lumber Midwest Automation Midwest Sandright Mikron Woodworking Machinery Mill Outlet Minimax Mirror Reflections Mississippi Heart Pine Miter Clamp MLS Machinery USA, Inc. MLS Machinery Modern Woodworking Magazine Mohawk Finishing Products Moldingknives.com Monarch Machinery Morbidelli Moulder Services Moulder Techniques Mountainside Wood Products Multicam, Inc. NAP Gladu NCME Nebraska Tool NEMI New England Kiln Drying Association Newman Whitney Norment and Lambert North Pacific Lumber Northstate Hardwoods Northtech Machinery Hermance Machine Company High Point Grinding - Total Saw Solutions Historical Plus Wood Hoffmann Machine Company Holz Her U.S. Inc. Howard S. Twichell Co. HSD USA Hvalsoe Sawmill Ltd. ICA North America Icy Straits Lumber IDM Impact Search and Placement Industrial Air Solutions Industrial Maid Integra Tooling InTrading Invicta Woodworking Machines IpeDepot.com irsauctions.com Italpresse J&P Machines J. Gibson McIlvain Company JIT Hardware Supplies, Inc. JMHsoftware.com John G. Weber Co. Joos USA Inc. KCDw Kerber Farms and Mill Keystone Wood Specialties Keytrix Data Systems Kiln-direct.com Kleiberit Adhesives USA, Inc. Koch Machinery and Systems Komo Machine, Inc. Kreg Tool Company Kremlin Lacy Cypress Inc. Laguna Tools Langelier Lumber Ltd. LEUCO Tool Corporation Lewis Lumber Products Lobo Machinery Corp. Logosol Lord Parquet Industry Ltd. Lumber Resources MACHINEKING.com Macoser, Inc. Mahros Maine Woods Company Mann and Parker Lumber Co. Martin Lumber MARTIN Woodworking Machines Corp. Mastercam - CNC Software Matthews Mill Maya Positioning Equipment

WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?

Working with hickory How to get around the difficult machining characteristics of hickory. July 24, 2001

Question
I'm new to working with hickory and finding it difficult to shape. If I plane it, route it or shape it, it wants to chip out. The only success that I have had at dimensioning has been with my drum sander, but I have had terrible luck routing. Can anyone share some experience that might help me?

Forum Responses
Welcome to the world of working with hickory. You may check with your tooling supplier. They can do some things with various cutters regarding hook angle, shear angle, etc. Hickory is a wildcard--you can be running along fine and suddenly a great big chunk goes flying.

I've found the only way to get decent results is to always climb cut when routing or machining. A word of caution, though: never attempt to climb cut anything without automatic machines. Always use a power feeder on the table saw, shaper, etc. Never ever attempt this by hand.

Shagbark hickory characteristics

Hickory is wingy. Feed speed and cutter science is required. Beautiful wood, though. Worth the effort.

Over the years, many tests have been done on hickory. The cutting angle (the hook and grind angles) can be changed to reduce the tear-out. Due to the density and grain most people use carbide. Carbide creates a long-lasting dull cut. With the introduction of new heat reflective coatings, some high-speed steels can now be used in hickory with much success. This allows a sharper cut. This cut will provide a better finish. It will not last as long as carbide, but the difference in finish can be justified by many.

Dave Rankin, forum technical advisor

The comments below were added after this Forum discussion was archived as a Knowledge Base article (add your comment).

Comment from contributor A:
I am building cabinets with hickory now. I have had a lot of the same problems. I started on the router table cutting rabit joints, with pieces being trashed. Then went to a planer jointer, which does fine till blades start to dull, and this doesn't take long. My best luck has been with a dado blade doing the end grain first. When routing, doing the ends first has improved the quality, with an occassional blowout. Sharp tools are a must.

Comment from contributor K:
I recently wainscoted a wall with hickory. Its machining properties are terrible. This was overcome by routing at no more than a 64th of an inch at a time. The wall required 50 raised panels. It took 32 passes per panel but the results were well worth it. The moldings to hold the panels were cut once. With this method, not one panel had to be redone and the completed panels took a beautiful finish with minimal sanding.

Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?

KnowledgeBase: Lumber and Plywood

KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: General

KnowledgeBase: Solid Wood Machining

KnowledgeBase: Solid Wood Machining: General

KnowledgeBase: Solid Wood Machining: Setup and Maintenance

KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering: Wood Properties

KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous

KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Woodworking

KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to review our Forum Guidelines.

Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

Return to beginning of article.

Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy

Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

WOODWEB, Inc.
RR4 Box 265A
Montrose, PA 18801

Contact WOODWEB