Types of Uses for Hickory Wood

Percussion

• Hickory is the wood of choice for drumstick manufacturers. Drumming is forceful and requires a hard wood that can withstand repeated hits. Xylophone hammer manufacturers also use hickory for the handles.

Smoking and Grilling

• Used correctly, hickory gives food, especially meat, a smoky flavor. Casual grillers place a few chunks directly onto the coals, which provides a quick flavor enhancer. Smoking takes more time, and smoke masters may place hickory pieces on preburned charcoal. They may also wrap the chunks in ventilated aluminum foil and place them on the coals. Smoking permeates the meat and tenderizes tough cuts, as well.

Sports Supplies

• Under steam, hickory wood has ideal bending characteristics. It also possesses high bending and crushing strength while dry, making it a good wood for multiple projects. It is also resistant to high shock, such as the impact of a baseball. Sporting goods manufacturers also use hickory to make skis, golf club shafts and laminates for tennis rackets.

Tools

• Your hammer probably has a hickory wood handle. Hickory's tough resistance to striking force makes it a good choice for tools such as hammers, picks and shovels. Softer woods cannot withstand the same amount of pressure as can hickory.

Flooring

• Hickory trees generate two colors: the core of the tree is a reddish color, while the outer sapwood is white or cream-colored. The dual-color feature and the wood's toughness make it a good choice for hardwood flooring in lieu of more traditional flooring options.