White Oak lumber collection
Open-grain domestic alternative with strong furniture and millwork demand.
View optionBitternut Hickory Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Bitternut Hickory is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameCarya cordiformis
Janka hardness1,500 lbf
Average dried weight46 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose Bitternut Hickory?
Bitternut Hickory is a domestic hardwood species. Found in the eastern United States. Used for flooring, wheel spokes, ladder rungs and tool handles.
Scientific nameCarya cordiformis
DistributionFound in the eastern United States
ShrinkageVolumetric: 13.6%
DurabilityThe heartwood is considered non-durable to perishable against decay and is very open to insect attack.
Bitternut Hickory colour, grain, and figure
Heartwood is reddish-tinted brown in a light to medium shade, and the sapwood is paler yellowish brown. Boards that mix heartwood and sapwood have a rustic look that is sometimes sold as Calico Hickory.
Usually straight grain that is wavy now and then, with a medium texture and medium-sized open pores.
Working notes
It is hard to work. Tearout is common during machining unless cutting edges stay sharp, and the wood tends to dull them. It takes glue, stain and finish well.
No health effects beyond the usual risks of any wood dust have been linked to Bitternut Hickory.
Bitternut Hickory should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Bitternut Hickory
Best projects
Used for flooring, wheel spokes, ladder rungs and tool handles.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Bitternut Hickory from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Black Ash lumber collection
Closest Kingma ash-family shopping path where available.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Bitternut Hickory FAQ
What is Bitternut Hickory best used for?
Used for flooring, wheel spokes, ladder rungs and tool handles. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Bitternut Hickory beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Bitternut Hickory?
The buying section on this page links to any Bitternut Hickory Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.