Pecan
Carya illinoinensis
Pecan is a member of the hickory family and shares many of its excellent mechanical properties. This tough, hard wood features attractive reddish-brown heartwood with dramatic color variation between heartwood and sapwood, making it popular for rustic flooring, cabinetry, and smoking meats. Pecan combines exceptional shock resistance and hardness with beautiful character, making it a distinctive choice for projects that benefit from visual drama.
Janka Hardness
1820 lbf
Very hard
Density
46 lbs/ft³
Dense
Shrinkage
High (8.9% tangential, 4.9% radial)
Higher movement
Appearance
Color: Reddish-brown heartwood with pale cream to white sapwood. Dramatic color contrast between heartwood and sapwood is a defining feature.
Grain: Straight to wavy grain with medium to coarse texture. Dramatic color contrast creates character.
Key Characteristics
- •Member of hickory family
- •Exceptional shock resistance
- •Dramatic heartwood/sapwood contrast
- •Very hard and tough
- •Good for steam bending
- •Popular for smoking meats
Common Applications
Maintenance
Durable for interior use. Requires finish for moisture protection. Very hard-wearing in flooring applications. Not naturally durable outdoors.
Advantages
- +Excellent hardness and toughness
- +Beautiful character and color variation
- +Great shock resistance
- +More affordable than hickory
- +Distinctive rustic appearance
- +Very durable flooring option
Considerations
- •High shrinkage requires careful drying
- •Can be difficult to machine
- •Not naturally durable outdoors
- •Color variation may not suit all tastes
- •Can dull cutting tools quickly
- •Prone to movement with humidity changes