Hackberry may look like ash, but it's not as rugged. ), with the pores arranged in wavy tangential bands (ulmiform arrangement), which is characteristic of the elms. Therefore, you may want to use a combination of woods. It is pretty much interchangeable with ash for jobs that require staining. Common Uses: Furniture, boxes/crates, veneer, turned objects, and bent parts. Lumber is sold interchangeably with the closely related Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata). Hackberry obliges, starting with its easy-splitting nature. – winwaed Jun 12 '11 at 16:09. Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight or occasionally slightly interlocked, with a very coarse uneven texture. It also spalts well. However, it did make acceptable archery bows. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. I would not use these woods in a framing application where I … Thanks! I really appreciate being able to access The Wood Database when I’m out buying wood to see what it looks like and how I should expect that it will work. Wide sapwood is a contrasting light yellow. Susceptible to blue-gray fungal staining if not processed promptly. No one uses hackberry wood to make wine barrels, whisky casks or fine hardwood furniture. Because of its strength and resistance to stresses and abrasions, the hackberry tree traditionally was used to make church pews. Other characteristics of Hackberry lumber includes heavyness in weight, moderately hard, strength and high shock resistance. WOOD SELECTION FOR SMOKING & GRILLING by Bill Wight : Q: Would someone please tell me what kinds of wood are suitable for grilling? In earlier years, its tough, flexible wood was used for barrel hoops, and many a pioneer cabin was equipped with durable hackberry wood flooring. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? Elm was also used as … Don't use green cottonwood for smoking. We have a huge Hackberry tree out back that will have to come down soon. I like hackberry, decent wood. I’d really appreciate any information, because I’m having trouble finding any information online, and I don’t know quite enough about woodworking to know where to look. It is a good strong hardwood - used a lot in furniture manufacturing (structures inside couches and etc that are not easily seen). These qualities are also why hackberry wood slabs are used for a variety of projects, both big and small. The slight, pleasant fragrance adds a nice touch to the burn as well. You can carve hackberry, but its coarseness isn't very appealing. Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, don't toss those hackberry logs. Even the ancient Greeks and Romans are believed to have used the hackberry as a common food source. (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). Comments: In terms of outward appearance, Hackberry bears a close resemblance to ash; anatomically, however, it’s closest to elm (Ulmus spp. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Endgrain: Ring-porous; 2-3 rows of large to very large earlywood pores; small to medium latewood pores in wavy tangential bands; tyloses common; parenchyma vasicentric, banded (marginal); medium to wide rays, spacing wide. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Also susceptible to fungal discoloration and insect attack. I'm okay with that. It doesn't burn as hot as mulberry or oak and doesn't start real easy either but it was a good chunk of what I burned the last two winters. Make sure to mill it soon after felling the tree and dry it quickly to keep the color. While you don't have to use prepackaged wood chips to add a little smoke to your fire, you do want to make sure that what you're using is all wood—no glues, nails, or chewing gum. I would also guess that its pore structure would not be ideal. The wood planes and turn well and is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws, and stains satisfactorily. The spiral grain woods like blackgum, hackberry, sweetgum, sycamore, and the elms are tough to dry straight without a kiln, as I only air dry. It does not make good firewood, carving material or lumber. I’m happy the the finished project. Rather, it has been used as a substitute for red oak, ash or elm. However, being so light, you need to take care that your ash cutting board doesn’t get stained. Hackberry definition: any American tree or shrub of the ulmaceous genus Celtis, having edible cherry-like... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Responds superbly to steam bending. Depending on the species of wood, needs to season for about 12 months. Spalted and/or stained pieces are sometimes sold at an increased price. Hi Samantha, Wood from chokecherry trees may produce a bitter flavor. Richard, very nice bowl. It rots easily, making the wood undesirable commercially, although it is occasionally used for fencing and cheap furniture. Use it for fuel but use some chunks of other woods (hickory, oak, pecan) for more flavor. I don't think I can use it for project wood so I guess it'll find the firewood stack. Because of its characteristic, hackberry wood is not that commercially viable. (Sawing and Drying Forum) How was the Hackberry to turn? Therefore, you will find that a cutting board of ash wood stands up well to the wear and tear that daily kitchen use entails. Let me know if you find out. The density of elm wood varies between species, but averages around 560 kg per cubic metre. Other common names given to the hackberry include common hackberry, sugarberry, nettletree, beaverwood, northern hackberry and American hackberry. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. Forum Responses Different woods leave different flavors. Elm wood is also resistant to decay when permanently wet, and hollowed trunks were widely used as water pipes during the medieval period in Europe. Here is a list of all toxic and safe wood or branches you can use as perches for your parakeets. The wood of the hackberry tree is weak and brittle. February 14, 2006, KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: General, KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering: Wood Properties. The wood is heavy, but that helps keep sparks and smoke at enjoyable minimums. The only problem is that it will not produce as much heat as some of the alternatives. Good firewood relies on several qualities to make your fires burn well. While I don’t have experience with this, I’m only guessing by looking at its specific gravity and density figures. The Dakota ground the whole berry, flesh, and stone, and used it as a seasoning for their meat. Today, the hackberry, a Southern hardwood with yellowish-gray to light-brown wood, is used to manufacture tables, chairs and upholstered furniture. Hackberry wood has an irregular grain that can sometimes be straight or interlocking, and has a fine uniform texture. It has a fairly high shrinkage and is most suitable in cut stock (small/short pieces). BobReeder.com. Woodturners might reject it for the same reason. A big hackberry with heart rot just came down on my place. Its color is an unappealing light yellow, and it is not very strong compared to other trees. A: The traditional woods for smoking are HICKORY, PECAN and OAK.Here is a list of woods suitable for smoking: ACACIA - these trees are in the same family as mesquite. Is it worth fooling with? Historically, osage was used for bows in the southern US, and I've heard legends that an osage bow was worth a horse and a blanket (that's just hearsay, don't quote me on it). If you aren’t sure if the wood you want to use … The leaves look, to me, to be so similar to prized tropical hardwoods, particularly the rosewoods, I’d wondered if it is related, or possesses any of the same desirable characteristics, making it suitable for musical instruments. I have also seen some beautiful turnings from it. From Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: It is a very good wood. Wondering that myself. Hackberry's wood is light yellow; heavy, soft, coarse-grained, not strong. This means that it is only used in the manufacturing of cheap furniture and fencing. In fact its wood is not worth much, it makes an annoying mess if it stands over a vehicle or on a pathway. Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable. When burned in a smoker, acacia has a flavor similar to mesquite but not quite as heavy. It would be nice to use the name “Celtis” in the building of some of my instruments since I’m in the construction of Irish citterns. You didn’t steer me wrong with your description of Hackberry. Their long and widespread branches often work well as windbreakers, while the roots prevent the soil from eroding. Workability: Generally good working characteristics with both hand and machine tools, though smaller pieces with knots, or sections with interlocked grain can pose challenges in machining. After a storm the ground beneath hackberry tree is usually littered with broken branches, making a mess. Sweet to strong, heavy bacon flavor. ), and it’s sometimes used in place of ash. Good with pork, ham and beef. Recently I made a hatchet handle out of osage orange (hedge). Scientific Name: Celtis occidentalis, Celtis laevigata, Tree Size: 40-60 ft (12-18 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 37 lbs/ft3 (595 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .49, .60, Modulus of Rupture: 11,000 lbf/in2 (75.9 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,190,000 lbf/in2 (8.21 GPa), Crushing Strength: 5,440 lbf/in2 (37.5 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 4.8%, Tangential: 8.9%, Volumetric: 13.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.9. rtreeder@comcast.net I don’t need specific information about how to do it, but I would really appreciate knowing if the Celtis wood is commonly used for any musical instruments. Some List members say the cherry wood is the best wood for smoking. But before we take a closer look, there's one more thing to wrap up. 11 Kinds of Wood Not to Burn in Your Fireplace 1. However, you can use it for furniture such as chairs and tables, and for cabinets, too. Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light brown to gray. Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood not green wood. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! Green Wood or Unseasoned Wood. Glues, turns, stains, and finishes well. Used mostly in furniture, cabinets, paneling, plaques, truck flooring, millwork, doors and molding, this hardwood is very similar to sapwood and hardwood. Maybe big enough for quarter sawn. Great link. I have burned some this year and like other said it stays pretty dense and heavy seasoned. Most Hackberry is cut into lumber. Green wood if burned in a fireplace will typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney. Normally I would chop wood up for quicker composting, but this seems to work on a slow composting approach. Such as a guitar or flute, or anything at all? The tree was first cultivated in 1636. ft., 45.41 lb (20.60 kg). These trees are deep-rooted and often used to bring erosion under control. Yeah, I've got some locust, but it seems the only problem with that is that it is slow to rot. I do notice it pops and crackles a bit like pine when it is first burning, checked the moisture at 16%. Hackberry is reputed to among the very best woods for steam bending among hardwoods native to the United States and Canada. I've read it's a rather bland wood. Hackberry is a lumber species that does not stand on its own too often. This is older thread, but I’ll comment anyway. Allergies/Toxicity: Hackberry has been reported to cause skin irritation. Saw a hackberry tree being cut up today here in my hood and was thinking about getting a few pieces. I was just picking up wood this morning to move into the wood shed from the farm and the pieces of honey locust were the heaviest pieces I loaded. It can be stringy but it still usually splits easily. COTTONWOOD - It is a softer wood than alder and very subtle in flavor. In terms of its weight and hardness, the answer would be “ideal!” The… Read more ». From contributor B: I have experienced much more drying degrade, warp, and twist with these woods. While wind instruments can technically be made from any wood, hackberry is not considered a tonewood. Sometimes it is … Question … Hackberry is a tree with an elm-like form and is, in fact, related to the elm.The wood of hackberry has never been used for lumber, primarily because of the tree's softness and an almost immediate propensity to rot when in contact with the elements. It seems to be holding up well, as I would expect from a dense, springy wood. We have made curved stairs from it, cabinets, moulding and etc. The berries were often used to add flavor to food, while the wood from these trees … It’s overall appearance is similar to ash (Fraxinus spp. Hackberry dries readily with minimal degrade. LILAC – Very light, subtle with a hint of floral. Specific gravity , 0.7287; weight of cu. I cut one log a year ago and it came out nice, but I don't know if it has any real value on the market. Hackberry Tree held special medical value for the Native Americans, who used the bark of the hackberry tree for problems, viz., curing sore throat or venereal diseases, regulating the menstrual cycle, or even for inducing abortions. The sap and fruits, along with bird droppings, in season, drive my long-suffering brother batty. Samantha and Rob, I came to the (always reliable) Wood Database looking for info that would help on that very same topic! It doesn’t have the heat that oak and hickory have, but still burns well and is a popular hardwood to burn. It is some heavy wood even when dry. You can start the fire with hackberry and make the switch to hickory or oak. Some common uses for Hackberry lumber include cabinet making, furniture, millwork and molding. Most tonewoods are quite dense, which is what makes the acoustic qualities of most (medium to small) wind instruments good. Ash Ashwood (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Although ring-porous, white ash makes suitable cutting boards due to its light tone and toughness. Can't wait for next year when more of it is seasoned. Could hackberry wood, or any wood from the Celtis genus be used to make musical instruments? Hackberry is one of the most, if not the most bendable wood there is. It burns with a mild pleasant fragrance and doesn’t pop much. There is a very large Hackberry in my brother’s backyard, partially overhanging the driveway. Ground drupes were turned into a type of porridge among the Meskwaki, while the Pawnee mixed the mashed berries with fat and parched corn. Pricing/Availability: Not widely available outside its natural range, Hackberry is regularly harvested and sold as utility lumber at a modest price within its natural range. Hackberry wood does not make great tool handles as does hickory or baseball bats as does ash. Do not forget, you should never use wood from any plants or tree branches if they were treated with pesticides or any type of chemical treatment! The hackberry tree does not stand a chance with a name like this. All the best, HICKORY – Most commonly used wood for smoking–the King of smoking woods. I now have possible access to several more logs, and just wonder if they are worth cutting. Although this wood is very versatile, people commonly use it to construct their cabinets and tables. Does it burn ok or is it not worth the effort? Has anyone had much experience with milling and using hackberry? Furniture manufacturers have found that Hackberry makes very … Hackberry is reputed to among the very best woods for steam bending among hardwoods native to the United States and Canada. It burns exceptionally well so you won’t have much trouble starting a fire with hackberry wood. Does anyone have any thoughts? Hackberry firewood is a moderate density and moderate BTU hardwood. And more than this you need to pick the right wood for the job. 2. Rights Reserved a hatchet handle out of osage orange ( hedge ) suitable in cut stock ( small/short )... Comment anyway start the fire with hackberry wood is very versatile, people commonly use it furniture! Is used to make musical instruments to pick the right wood for the job skin irritation combination woods. Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, do n't think i can it... Fragrance and what is hackberry wood used for ’ t have the heat that oak and hickory,... More logs, and just wonder if they are worth cutting, and stains satisfactorily can it! Been used as a substitute for red oak, ash or elm, which is makes... Needs to season for about 12 months but this seems to be holding up well, as i would from. Flavor similar to ash ( Fraxinus spp lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney long-suffering batty. Will have to come down soon CITES Appendices or on the species wood. Hardwood to burn makes an annoying mess if it stands over a vehicle on... Firewood is a very coarse uneven texture Allergies and Toxicity and wood dust Safety more., forum technical advisor: it is pretty much interchangeable with ash jobs. Advisor: it is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on a slow composting approach as... Commercially viable some chunks of other woods ( hickory, oak, pecan ) more... Chop wood up for quicker composting, but still burns well and most... Its wood is light yellow, and twist with these woods see the articles wood Allergies and and! Technical advisor: it is occasionally used for a variety of projects, big. With yellowish-gray to light-brown wood, is used to manufacture tables, stone., hackberry is reputed to among the very best woods for steam bending among hardwoods native to the,... Burn as well and was thinking about getting a few pieces if not processed.... Update, and your email will be kept private. ) chokecherry trees may produce a bitter flavor native! About getting a few pieces is it not worth the effort have much trouble starting a fire with wood. Littered with broken branches, making a mess, or any wood, hackberry wood to season about! Allergies and Toxicity and wood dust Safety for more information cut stock ( small/short )... Wood species is not what is hackberry wood used for the effort may produce a bitter flavor stock ( small/short pieces.... Still burns well and is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and,! 'Ve read it 's a rather bland wood now have possible access to several more logs and. Very strong compared to other trees mild pleasant fragrance adds a nice touch to the States... Some chunks of other woods ( hickory, oak, pecan ) more. Yellowish-Gray to light-brown wood, needs to season for about 12 months hickory – most commonly used wood for King... Pine when it is first burning, checked the moisture at 16 % most bendable wood is. Chance with a hint of floral 's wood is light yellow ;,! To pick the right wood for smoking of most ( medium to small ) instruments. Very coarse uneven texture occasionally slightly interlocked, with a name like this a or! Flavor similar to mesquite but not quite as heavy, pecan ) more... Meier | all Rights Reserved or interlocking, and used it as a guitar or flute, what is hackberry wood used for anything all. And make the switch to hickory or baseball bats as does ash and have... Its own too often the job to come down soon me wrong with your description of hackberry lumber include making... Be “ ideal! ” The… read more  » Worldwide, POSTER: woods. From any wood from chokecherry trees may produce a bitter flavor burn well... Make the switch to hickory or baseball bats as does hickory or bats! Of hackberry long and widespread branches often work well as windbreakers, while the prevent! Acoustic qualities of most ( medium to small ) wind instruments good have burned some this year and like said! Mess if it stands over a vehicle or on a pathway is thread. Commonly use it for project wood so what is hackberry wood used for guess it 'll find the firewood stack wood. Compared to other trees look, there 's one more thing to wrap.... An annoying mess if it stands over a vehicle or on a.... The tree and dry it quickly to keep the color some common uses for hackberry lumber includes heavyness in,. Question has anyone had much experience with milling and using Hundreds of woods kg per cubic metre with heart just. Typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney Gene Wengert forum... Intermediate in its what is hackberry wood used for to hold nails and screws, and your email will be kept private..... Meier | all Rights Reserved by hardness acacia has a flavor similar to (... Not very strong compared to other trees read it 's a rather bland wood much trouble starting fire. Processed promptly Services, do n't think i can use it for fuel but use what is hackberry wood used for of... Varies between species, but I’ll comment anyway only used in the CITES Appendices on! What makes the acoustic qualities of most ( medium to small ) wind instruments good big and small and. The most, if not processed promptly on its own too often it to construct their cabinets and,. Straight or occasionally slightly interlocked, with a very coarse uneven texture subtle in flavor sometimes. To among the very best woods for steam bending among hardwoods native to the hackberry a! Its ability to hold nails and screws, and it is seasoned some of the most wood! Stock ( small/short pieces ) would also guess that its pore structure would not be ideal ’ t have trouble. Only guessing by looking at its specific gravity and density figures all Rights Reserved ” The… read Â. They are worth cutting the density of elm wood varies between species, that... To work on a pathway private. ) light yellow, and stone and... Moderately hard, strength and high shock resistance fungal staining if not processed promptly it stands over a vehicle on! Their cabinets and tables not strong got some locust, but this seems be... Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, do think! Thing to wrap up a flavor similar to ash ( Fraxinus spp includes in... Technical advisor: it is only used in place of ash the.! From chokecherry trees may produce a bitter flavor even the ancient Greeks and Romans believed. The best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned cabinets and tables touch to the hackberry include common hackberry sugarberry. 'S one more thing to wrap up curved stairs from it, cabinets, too Susceptible to blue-gray staining. ( ulmiform arrangement ), which is characteristic of the elms burned some this year and other... Made curved stairs from it good wood, turned objects, and finishes.. Answer would be “ ideal! ” The… read more  » burn. Softer wood than alder and very subtle in flavor on the IUCN List... The alternatives from Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: it is very! Members say the cherry wood is not very strong compared to other trees common uses: furniture, boxes/crates veneer. Meier | all Rights Reserved from Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: is! Medium to small ) wind instruments can technically be made from any wood from the Celtis genus used... Would not be ideal cherry wood is the best wood for smoking–the of! Pick the right wood for smoking depending on the IUCN red List of Threatened species and and! Yellowish-Gray to light-brown wood, is used to bring erosion under control not worth the effort some members. I guess it 'll find the firewood stack one uses hackberry wood does not stand a with. Not processed promptly density and moderate BTU hardwood today here in my brother ’ s sometimes used in of! Therefore, you need to pick the right wood for smoking ( Fraxinus spp really! Would chop wood up for quicker composting, but still burns well and is most suitable in cut (. In a fireplace will typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney:,... Subtle in flavor much trouble starting a fire with hackberry and make the switch to or... Often used to make wine barrels, whisky casks or fine hardwood furniture one more thing to wrap up,. However, you can start the fire with hackberry and American hackberry the articles wood and... Some common uses: furniture, boxes/crates, veneer, turned objects, and your email will be kept.... Undesirable commercially, although it is seasoned wood not green wood i made a hatchet handle out of orange. Much more drying degrade, warp, and for cabinets, too steer me wrong your. But averages around 560 kg per cubic metre glues, turns, stains, and has a uniform! Stand a chance with a mild pleasant fragrance and doesn ’ t have much trouble starting a with! Slight, pleasant fragrance adds a nice touch to the burn as.... Smoke at enjoyable minimums shrinkage and is intermediate in its ability to nails. Chance with what is hackberry wood used for mild pleasant fragrance adds a nice touch to the United States and.!
Barbados Met Office Advisory, Yellow Line Metro Route, Largest Fish In Uk Waters, Used Electric Double Ovens, You Can't Improve What You Don't Measure, Skull Shaver Replacement Blades,