AMERICAN PECAN

American pecan and hickory are different species of a very diverse group, but in the round (log) they are virtually indistinguishable from each other and therefore often processed by saw mills and sold mixed together.

LATIN NAME

Carya spp.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

May be referred to as pecan hickory

american_pecan

FOREST DISTRIBUTION

COMPARE SPECIES

Pecan trees grow naturally in the south eastern USA and principally in the Mississippi valley. It is an important fruit-bearing tree and varies in size enormously.

MATERIAL AVAILABILITY

COMPARE SPECIES

Pecan sawn lumber is available in export grades, but sold unselected for colour and mixed. The NHLA FAS grade permits a minimum width of 4 inches (101.6mm). The lower NHLA grades (1 & 2 Common) can produce an attractive and fashionable rustic look. Lumber is mainly produced in thinner stock (4/4” & 5/4) although a limited amount of thicker material may be available.

WOOD DESCRIPTION

COMPARE SPECIES

The wood of pecan varies greatly in colour, grain pattern and appearance from this very diverse group. It is coarsely textured and the grain is usually straight but can be wavy or irregular. The sapwood is white and maybe tinged with brown, while the heartwood is pale to yellow brown to dark in colour. Deep purple mineral streaks are a natural characteristic. Bird pecks are also a common characteristic and neither is considered a defect.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

The wood of pecan is usually considered very strong with excellent stem bending classification, high crushing strength, high stiffness and very high shock resistance.

0.66

Specific Gravity(12% M.C.)

7,373kg/m3

Average Weight(12% M.C.)

0%

Average Volume Shrinkage(Green to 6% M.C.)

94.46MPa

Modulus of Rupture

11,928MPa

Modulus of Elasticity

54.13MPa

Compressive strength (parallel to grain)

8,095N

Hardness

Oiled / Un-Oiled Appearance

COMPARE SPECIES
Oiled
american_pecan_oiled
Un-Oiled
american_pecan_unoiled

PERFORMANCE

COMPARE SPECIES

● Pecan is considered to have good machining properties resembling those of hickory but difficult to glue, and is very hard to work with hand tools. It holds nails and screws well but tend to split, so pre-boring is advised. The wood can be sanded, stained and polished to a good finish. It can be readily dried but has fairly high shrinkage.

● The wood is non-resistant to heartwood decay and classed as moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

MAIN USES

COMPARE SPECIES

Furniture, cabinetry, ladder rungs, tool handles dowels and sporting goods. Particularly hockey sticks due to its flexibility.

Cabinet
Furniture
Tool handles

EAXMPLE OF USE