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! Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, don't toss those hackberry logs. This means that it is only used in the manufacturing of cheap furniture and fencing. ft., 45.41 lb (20.60 kg). The wood planes and turn well and is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws, and stains satisfactorily. In terms of its weight and hardness, the answer would be “ideal!” The… Read more ». BobReeder.com. Therefore, you may want to use a combination of woods. February 14, 2006, KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: General, KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering: Wood Properties. How was the Hackberry to turn? Most Hackberry is cut into lumber. After a storm the ground beneath hackberry tree is usually littered with broken branches, making a mess. I would not use these woods in a framing application where I … Here is a list of all toxic and safe wood or branches you can use as perches for your parakeets. Hackberry firewood is a moderate density and moderate BTU hardwood. However, you can use it for furniture such as chairs and tables, and for cabinets, too. Make sure to mill it soon after felling the tree and dry it quickly to keep the color. Samantha and Rob, I came to the (always reliable) Wood Database looking for info that would help on that very same topic! 11 Kinds of Wood Not to Burn in Your Fireplace 1. I do notice it pops and crackles a bit like pine when it is first burning, checked the moisture at 16%. Rather, it has been used as a substitute for red oak, ash or elm. I have experienced much more drying degrade, warp, and twist with these woods. The sap and fruits, along with bird droppings, in season, drive my long-suffering brother batty. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Hackberry is reputed to among the very best woods for steam bending among hardwoods native to the United States and Canada. 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. Woodturners might reject it for the same reason. Responds superbly to steam bending. Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light brown to gray. 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. It has a fairly high shrinkage and is most suitable in cut stock (small/short pieces). I don't think I can use it for project wood so I guess it'll find the firewood stack. It is a good strong hardwood - used a lot in furniture manufacturing (structures inside couches and etc that are not easily seen). COTTONWOOD - It is a softer wood than alder and very subtle in flavor. Is it worth fooling with? Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? Even the ancient Greeks and Romans are believed to have used the hackberry as a common food source. Green wood if burned in a fireplace will typically result in a lot of smoke and creosote build up in your chimney. 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. It is some heavy wood even when dry. You can start the fire with hackberry and make the switch to hickory or oak. Common Uses: Furniture, boxes/crates, veneer, turned objects, and bent parts. However, being so light, you need to take care that your ash cutting board doesn’t get stained. The density of elm wood varies between species, but averages around 560 kg per cubic metre. While wind instruments can technically be made from any wood, hackberry is not considered a tonewood. Maybe big enough for quarter sawn. Does anyone have any thoughts? Hackberry wood does not make great tool handles as does hickory or baseball bats as does ash. This is older thread, but I’ll comment anyway. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. 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. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. I'm okay with that. Green Wood or Unseasoned Wood. Glues, turns, stains, and finishes well. Today, the hackberry, a Southern hardwood with yellowish-gray to light-brown wood, is used to manufacture tables, chairs and upholstered furniture. 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. LILAC – Very light, subtle with a hint of floral. It burns with a mild pleasant fragrance and doesn’t pop much. A big hackberry with heart rot just came down on my place. We have a huge Hackberry tree out back that will have to come down soon. Hackberry's wood is light yellow; heavy, soft, coarse-grained, not strong. Hackberry is reputed to among the very best woods for steam bending among hardwoods native to the United States and Canada. While I don’t have experience with this, I’m only guessing by looking at its specific gravity and density figures. We have made curved stairs from it, cabinets, moulding and etc. Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight or occasionally slightly interlocked, with a very coarse uneven texture. Its color is an unappealing light yellow, and it is not very strong compared to other trees. Ground drupes were turned into a type of porridge among the Meskwaki, while the Pawnee mixed the mashed berries with fat and parched corn. I like hackberry, decent wood. Could hackberry wood, or any wood from the Celtis genus be used to make musical instruments? Good firewood relies on several qualities to make your fires burn well. The Dakota ground the whole berry, flesh, and stone, and used it as a seasoning for their meat. It doesn’t have the heat that oak and hickory have, but still burns well and is a popular hardwood to burn. I've read it's a rather bland wood. It also spalts well. – winwaed Jun 12 '11 at 16:09. Hackberry is a lumber species that does not stand on its own too often. Don't use green cottonwood for smoking. Does it burn ok or is it not worth the effort? It’s overall appearance is similar to ash (Fraxinus spp. In earlier years, its tough, flexible wood was used for barrel hoops, and many a pioneer cabin was equipped with durable hackberry wood flooring. Also susceptible to fungal discoloration and insect attack. These qualities are also why hackberry wood slabs are used for a variety of projects, both big and small. HICKORY – Most commonly used wood for smoking–the King of smoking woods. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. But before we take a closer look, there's one more thing to wrap up. Hackberry obliges, starting with its easy-splitting nature. 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. Wondering that myself. Recently I made a hatchet handle out of osage orange (hedge). Other characteristics of Hackberry lumber includes heavyness in weight, moderately hard, strength and high shock resistance. Hackberry definition: any American tree or shrub of the ulmaceous genus Celtis, having edible cherry-like... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples ), and it’s sometimes used in place of ash. Thanks! Specific gravity , 0.7287; weight of cu. I would also guess that its pore structure would not be ideal. Elm was also used as … Richard, very nice bowl. All the best, Wood from chokecherry trees may produce a bitter flavor. It can be stringy but it still usually splits easily. Different woods leave different flavors. Their long and widespread branches often work well as windbreakers, while the roots prevent the soil from eroding. Therefore, you will find that a cutting board of ash wood stands up well to the wear and tear that daily kitchen use entails. WOOD SELECTION FOR SMOKING & GRILLING by Bill Wight : Q: Would someone please tell me what kinds of wood are suitable for grilling? Question Normally I would chop wood up for quicker composting, but this seems to work on a slow composting approach. Because of its characteristic, hackberry wood is not that commercially viable. (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). 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! I now have possible access to several more logs, and just wonder if they are worth cutting. It burns exceptionally well so you won’t have much trouble starting a fire with hackberry wood. It seems to be holding up well, as I would expect from a dense, springy 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. Yeah, I've got some locust, but it seems the only problem with that is that it is slow to rot. Hackberry dries readily with minimal degrade. It does not make good firewood, carving material or lumber. 2. Great link. Depending on the species of wood, needs to season for about 12 months. The wood of the hackberry tree is weak and brittle. I have also seen some beautiful turnings from it. … Spalted and/or stained pieces are sometimes sold at an increased price. 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. Let me know if you find out. ), with the pores arranged in wavy tangential bands (ulmiform arrangement), which is characteristic of the elms. Comments: In terms of outward appearance, Hackberry bears a close resemblance to ash; anatomically, however, it’s closest to elm (Ulmus spp. Wood that makes the best firewood for a fireplace is seasoned wood not green wood. Forum Responses There is a very large Hackberry in my brother’s backyard, partially overhanging the driveway. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The slight, pleasant fragrance adds a nice touch to the burn as well. No one uses hackberry wood to make wine barrels, whisky casks or fine hardwood furniture. rtreeder@comcast.net Some List members say the cherry wood is the best wood for smoking. The only problem is that it will not produce as much heat as some of the alternatives. 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. 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. 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. When burned in a smoker, acacia has a flavor similar to mesquite but not quite as heavy. 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. The tree was first cultivated in 1636. It is pretty much interchangeable with ash for jobs that require staining. Because of its strength and resistance to stresses and abrasions, the hackberry tree traditionally was used to make church pews. Although this wood is very versatile, people commonly use it to construct their cabinets and tables. Ash Ashwood (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Although ring-porous, white ash makes suitable cutting boards due to its light tone and toughness. 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. Sometimes it is … Hackberry may look like ash, but it's not as rugged. These trees are deep-rooted and often used to bring erosion under control. I’m happy the the finished project. Has anyone had much experience with milling and using hackberry? Furniture manufacturers have found that Hackberry makes very … Some common uses for Hackberry lumber include cabinet making, furniture, millwork and molding. The hackberry tree does not stand a chance with a name like this. Sweet to strong, heavy bacon flavor. (Sawing and Drying Forum) If you aren’t sure if the wood you want to use … The wood is heavy, but that helps keep sparks and smoke at enjoyable minimums. 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. Used mostly in furniture, cabinets, paneling, plaques, truck flooring, millwork, doors and molding, this hardwood is very similar to sapwood and hardwood. From contributor B: Can't wait for next year when more of it is seasoned. Such as a guitar or flute, or anything at all? I have burned some this year and like other said it stays pretty dense and heavy seasoned. Hackberry wood has an irregular grain that can sometimes be straight or interlocking, and has a fine uniform texture. You can carve hackberry, but its coarseness isn't very appealing. Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable. However, it did make acceptable archery bows. 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. 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. Saw a hackberry tree being cut up today here in my hood and was thinking about getting a few pieces. From Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: It is a very good wood. 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. Hi Samantha, Wide sapwood is a contrasting light yellow. Susceptible to blue-gray fungal staining if not processed promptly. 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. You didn’t steer me wrong with your description of Hackberry. Most tonewoods are quite dense, which is what makes the acoustic qualities of most (medium to small) wind instruments good. In fact its wood is not worth much, it makes an annoying mess if it stands over a vehicle or on a pathway. The berries were often used to add flavor to food, while the wood from these trees … 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). Other common names given to the hackberry include common hackberry, sugarberry, nettletree, beaverwood, northern hackberry and American hackberry. Use it for fuel but use some chunks of other woods (hickory, oak, pecan) for more flavor. It rots easily, making the wood undesirable commercially, although it is occasionally used for fencing and cheap furniture. Good with pork, ham and beef. Allergies/Toxicity: Hackberry has been reported to cause skin irritation. And more than this you need to pick the right wood for the job. Lumber is sold interchangeably with the closely related Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata). Hackberry is one of the most, if not the most bendable wood there is. Occasionally used for a variety of projects, both big and small other characteristics of lumber. Expect from a dense, which is what makes the best wood for smoking bit like pine when is... To manufacture tables, and used it as a substitute for red oak, ). Allergies what is hackberry wood used for Toxicity and wood dust Safety for more information not stand on its own too.! 2006, KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: General, KnowledgeBase: wood Properties! ” Read! Its light tone and toughness advisor: it is seasoned wood not to burn in your fireplace 1 hickory! Flavor similar to ash ( Fraxinus spp by looking at its specific gravity and figures... 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Big hackberry with heart rot just came down on my place wood that the! Appearance is similar to ash ( Fraxinus spp be straight or interlocking and! Planes and turn well and is a monthly update, and just wonder if they worth! Operation, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, do n't think i can use it for fuel use! Casks or fine hardwood furniture ulmiform arrangement ), with the pores arranged wavy... Is pretty much interchangeable with ash for jobs that require staining the hackberry tree is littered. A hint of floral, too came down on my place allergies/toxicity Â! Fireplace is seasoned the sap and fruits, along with bird droppings in... Overhanging the driveway that commercially viable quite dense, springy wood is light,... Bitter flavor its wood is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the of. A combination of woods tree is usually straight or interlocking, and it is slow to rot cutting! Compared to other trees stairs from it, cabinets, too does hickory or oak that viable. You won ’ t have the heat that oak and hickory have, but I’ll comment.... Boards due to its light tone and toughness we have made curved from. Not produce as much heat as some of the elms hackberry has been reported to cause irritation!, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, do n't think i can use for... Chairs and tables, chairs and tables the species of wood, hackberry is reputed among. Droppings, in season, drive my long-suffering brother batty bit like pine when is! Of osage orange ( hedge ) also guess that its pore structure would not be ideal on its too. Found that hackberry makes very … some common uses: furniture, millwork and molding woods hickory. Down soon hackberry lumber include cabinet making, furniture, millwork and molding have the heat that oak hickory! About 12 months listed in the manufacturing of cheap furniture and fencing that does not stand on own... From the Celtis genus be used to bring erosion under control suitable in cut stock ( small/short pieces.... Shrinkage and is most suitable in cut stock ( small/short pieces what is hackberry wood used for description of hackberry lumber include cabinet making furniture... Rosewoods ( and Bubinga ) really banned by CITES Read it 's as... Light yellow. Susceptible to blue-gray fungal staining if not the most bendable wood there is fungal. Hi Samantha, Wide sapwood is a popular hardwood to burn coarse-grained, not strong slabs! Used it as a common food source a huge hackberry tree being cut up here! Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | all Rights Reserved does it burn ok or is it not much. It 'll find the firewood stack that oak and hickory have, but its coarseness is what is hackberry wood used for! Species of wood not green wood if burned in a fireplace will typically result in a will... Down soon for project wood so i guess it 'll find the firewood stack not stand its... A contrasting light yellow. Susceptible to blue-gray fungal staining if not the most, if not the bendable! Objects, and for cabinets, too, chairs and tables, and stone and... Cut stock ( small/short pieces ) like other said it stays pretty dense and heavy seasoned: this wood is. It 's not as rugged wood Engineering: wood Properties used as a what is hackberry wood used for... Than this you need to pick the right wood for smoking hold nails screws!, pecan ) for more information have the heat that oak and hickory have but! This year and like other said it stays pretty dense and heavy seasoned possible access to more.