Hickory
Also called: carya
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Hickory is a hard, shock-resistant timber chiefly chosen for tool handles and other parts that must absorb sudden impact.
Why hickory is chosen
Shock resistance means the wood can take a blow without failing easily. High-quality hickory is valued for tool and implement handles, and it is also used for flooring. Its strength, hardness and flexibility make it suitable where a part must take repeated loading rather than remain purely decorative.
Choose the grade
Not every hickory board is suitable for demanding work. Knots, other growth features and low density reduce the usefulness of lower grades, so inspect the stock instead of relying on the species name alone. Keep the clearest, most consistent material for handles or other parts that receive impact.
Other workshop uses
Hickory is also used beyond handles, including in furniture and flooring. Its flexibility is useful where a component must accommodate movement under load, which helps explain its use in chair parts and similar work.
A traditional elastic use
Hickory has also been used for the rod of a single-piece archery bow. In that job the timber is valued for elastic behaviour, meaning it can bend and return towards its former shape, so knots and defects matter when selecting the piece.