Don't know if you've ever been to the archery club not far from your place but if you want to see some hickory, that land is loaded with it. Beautiful it is.
I love hickory! But yeah just don't come across it as much as many of the others. But I'd be all over it! I got a few nice ones on my property but they ain't coming down unless they break off or fall or die.
That is one I've never cut or burned. I've heard it's a bear but nothing, I mean nothing can be as bad as that gum species mike bayerl and I tried processing. The rounds would not stay full length to create a split. And the 2 run-ins I've had with elm are not far behind.
I’m with you on the downed. I did just learn the hard was that a standing dead oak is much better than a standing dead hickory. I was psyched when I came across two of them but after I dropped them and started cutting rounds i found it light as styrofoam. Totally punked. I had to leave them, neatly though. As far as splitting, they are stringy, so the don’t pop apart like red oak. It’s more like white oak in that respect. I’ve got lots of them. But like Mwalsh9152, I look for downed trees. I only fell when I’m behind in inventory.
As most others have said for me it comes down to availability. I take Hickory whenever I can get it however red and white oak are much more prevalent. I got very lucky last year and was able to grab 4 mockernut. hickory trees that had blown over in a storm. The bark is extremely hard, had some pieces peel off the rounds and once dried they feel like a piece of lumber. I have started processing some for smoking wood, and probably have 2 + cords the firewood.
Tues night predicted low: 21 degrees, Wed, 25. We've been feeding the stove for a good 2 weeks or so now. These splits throw tremendous heat and last pretty long. Not as long as oak but not far behind either. So IMO it's down to personal preference or what's available to you. I personally love oak. Smell, usually long straight logs, ease of splitting and typically my oak splits are larger therefore I get longer burn times.
Yep, hickory doesn't weather well. Even cut in rounds and left will get punky quick. This was a standing dead hickory we cut in the spring, right hand side was still good, left side got one 10' log, mostly fire pit wood......
So early August 2017 this wood was cut ( Lot clearing score. ). This is shagbark hickory and also happens to be the piece that the wedge was cut from, so very bottom of tree. I’ve had this specific piece in my basement for at least two weeks now so it is fully conditioned to its current environment. You can see the difference between freshly open and not. Seasoned 2 years and @ about 19%.
I love hickory, burns long and hot, stringy to split and it’s a chain duller for sure but my splitter doesn’t complain too much!!
