The smell of fresh shavings hits you before you step past the door. I stand by the bench with hot coffee in one hand. Walnut curls lie on the floor like dark ribbons. Hickory chips sit close by and feel heavy under my boot. I have tested both woods in the same quiet shop. I cut them with the same blade. I sanded until my arms shook. I even let my kids drop a spoon on each board. Today I share every lesson. You will leave ready to pick the right plank.
Why Your Choice Matters
- The board sets the style of the room at first glance
- It changes how hard you work as you cut and join
- It decides how well the piece stands up to bumps
- It shapes the finish plan and later upkeep
Quick Species Snapshot
- Walnut is Juglans nigra and grows across many states
- Hickory is Carya and includes pecan in the same group
- Both dry well with simple care
- Both serve in furniture, tools, and flooring
Walnut Wood Profile
You spot walnut right away. Heartwood runs deep brown. Sapwood stays pale cream. The contrast makes slab edges pop.
- Janka hardness 1010
- Medium weight
- Grain mostly straight with some curl
- Very friendly to sharp tools
- Sweet earthy scent during a cut
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Stable once dry
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Shop feel*
Walnut planes with a soft hiss. The board leaves a satin face after a light pass. Saw marks sand out fast. Screws pull in with a small pilot.
- Look on finish day*
Walnut reads rich and calm. White walls love it. Black steel loves it. It fits modern and mid century rooms. It also warms a farmhouse space when you keep a strip of sapwood.
Hickory Wood Profile
Hickory shows raw strength. Heartwood starts warm brown and can move toward gold. Sapwood stays pale. Boards often flash bold streaks.
- Janka hardness 1820
- Heavy weight
- Grain loud and often wild
- Tough on edges and blades
- Mild woody scent when cut
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Fair stability with good prep
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Shop feel*
Hickory needs sharp carbide. A slow feed saves it from burn. It pulls at the router if you rush. Screws grip like a vise. Dents bounce right off.
- Look on finish day*
Hickory brings rugged charm. The loud grain hides scratches. It works in rustic rooms and country kitchens. Clean lines can push it into modern style.
Walnut vs Hickory Wood Side by Side
Durability and Wear
- Dent fight: Hickory wins by a wide margin
- Scratch cloak: Hickory grain hides marks, walnut dark tone masks scuffs
- Edge life: Hickory keeps crisp corners longer
- Water rings: Both dislike standing water and need a solid topcoat
Pick hickory for floors, stools, bench seats, kid desks, and entry tables. Pick walnut for formal tops, bookcases, media units, and bedroom sets.
Workability and Tools
- Blades: Hickory asks for carbide, walnut works with high speed steel
- Cutting: Walnut crosscuts clean, hickory chips on exit unless you tape the line
- Planing: Walnut glides, hickory begs for a tight mouth on the plane
- Routing: Walnut shapes smooth, hickory can burn so take thin passes
- Drilling: Both need pilots, hickory needs a wider pilot and wax on screws
Keep a fresh blade for hickory. Let the tool do the work. Listen for a high pitch that warns of burn.
Joinery and Structure
- Mortise and tenon: Walnut cuts clean, hickory rewards wide shoulders
- Dovetail: Walnut pins look crisp, hickory holds like a clamp but chips if the chisel is dull
- Pocket screws: Both accept them, hickory needs a gentle clutch to avoid cracks
- Dowels and loose tenons: Both love them with good glue spread
- Fasteners: Square drive screws stop cam out in both woods
Movement and Stability
Wood swells across the grain when the air gets damp. Hickory moves more than walnut. Keep indoor humidity steady between thirty and fifty five percent. Seal every face to slow change. Give wide panels room inside the frame.
For a large top use breadboard ends or figure eight fasteners. Walnut stays calmer. Hickory fights more yet settles when restrained with care.
Project Picks and Real Builds
I built the same coffee table in each species. Same size. Same joinery. Same finish. Yet they act like different animals.
Living Room
- Coffee table: Walnut hides dust, hickory shrugs off toy cars
- Media console: Walnut gives quiet style, hickory turns into a show piece
- Side table: Walnut feels refined, hickory handles rough play
Kitchen and Dining
- Dining table: Walnut glows under warm light, hickory suits family game nights
- Bar stool: Hickory legs stay straight, walnut works for low traffic bars
- Cutting board: Hickory is hard on knives, walnut treats edges kindly
Bedroom and Office
- Bed frame: Walnut headboard calms the eye, hickory rails stay true
- Dresser: Walnut looks sleek, hickory gives a cabin mood
- Desk: Walnut reduces glare, hickory stands up to heavy gear
Built Ins and Shelves
- Floating shelf: Walnut hides brackets with dark tone, hickory carries weight and needs stout anchors
- Bookcase: Walnut suits a design led room, hickory loves a busy office
Turning and Carving
- Turning: Walnut spins smooth and needs little sand work, hickory needs constant sharp edges
- Carving: Walnut holds detail, hickory splinters if you rush
- Inlay: Walnut frames brass well, hickory needs dark lines for contrast
Finishing Playbook
Walnut Finish Plan
- Sand to one eighty or two twenty grit
- Fill grain if you want a glass top then wipe clean
- Wipe on a clear oil which deepens color
- Add a water based polyurethane topcoat for protection
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Use a coat with ultraviolet guard if the piece sits in sun
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Tips*
Blotchy sapwood evens out if you seal with shellac before oil. Open pores show if you skip filler.
Hickory Finish Plan
- Sand to one eighty grit and clear every scratch
- Use pre stain wood conditioner if you plan to stain
- Pick a medium or dark stain for even tone
- Oil gives warm glow
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Topcoat with water based polyurethane for strong wear
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Tips*
Move steady to avoid burn. Test stain on scrap first.
Aging and Long Term Look
Walnut gains a deeper brown under gentle light. The change starts in weeks and levels off after a year. Hickory begins pale but drifts to a warm tone with time. A clear finish with ultraviolet block slows both shifts.
Sensory Map
Walnut smells like mild cocoa on a fresh cut. It feels smooth like a river stone after one pass of the plane. Hickory gives a sweet smoke scent that hints at campfire. The surface feels hard and cool like marble.
Cost and Sourcing
Prices swing by region and grade. My yard shows clear walnut high on the chart. Character grade drops the price and adds knots many folks crave. Hickory sits closer to oak in price.
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Save cash*
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Mix grades
- Buy rough lumber and mill at home if you own a jointer and planer
- Ask for shorts that still fit legs and rails
Sustainability Notes
Both species grow local and see good forest management. Ask the yard for chain of custody. Use scraps for small boxes or trays. A well built piece that lasts for decades counts as the greenest choice.
Troubleshooting Guide
- Tearout on hickory: Close the plane mouth and skew the cut
- Burn mark: Raise the blade height and feed faster
- Glue squeeze in open pores: Mask joint lines with tape and pull tape after clamp time
- Walnut fade: Use a finish that blocks light and move the piece a bit during first months
- Cupping: Acclimate boards for two days and mill in two stages
Decision Map
Pick hickory if you need dent proof strength, bold grain, high contrast, or if the piece lives in a busy space. Pick walnut if you want rich calm tone, easy workability, fine edges, or if the piece lives in a relaxed room.
Still unsure. Mix them. I once built a hickory base with a walnut top. The base took every kick. The top stayed silky. That table still looks fresh.
Quick Answers
- Is hickory better than walnut*
Each wood shines in its place. Hickory rules strength. Walnut rules style.
- Is hickory or walnut more expensive*
Walnut costs more in most regions.
- Is walnut a high end wood*
Yes. Makers prize its deep color and smooth grain.
- What are the downsides of hickory wood*
It dulls blades fast, moves with humidity, and can blotch under stain.
Sample Build Plans
Walnut Coffee Table
- Top forty eight by twenty four by one inch made from three boards
- Aprons four inches tall with a gentle arch
- Legs one point seven five inches square with a small chamfer
- Joinery mortise and tenon
- Finish one oil coat then two coats of water based polyurethane
Why it works. Crisp shoulders and warm color draw the eye. The finish feels like silk.
Hickory Bench
- Seat fifty four by fourteen by one point two five inches
- Legs two inches square with a slight taper
- Stretchers three inches tall
- Joinery through tenons wedged from the top
- Finish water based polyurethane
Why it works. Wedged tenons lock the seat. The wood shrugs off boots.
Care and Upkeep
- Dust with a soft cloth
- Wipe spills fast
- Use coasters and felt pads
- Refresh oil with a thin wipe on coat
- Recoat poly when dull areas show
Final Thoughts
You now hold clear facts about walnut vs hickory wood. Think about how the piece will live day after day. Picture the hands that will touch it. Choose the board that fits that picture. Then join. Sand. Finish. Smile. The build will carry your mark for years.