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American hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Other names: Common hackberry
Distribution
Eastern USA.
General description
Hackberry is closely related to sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) and
is a member of the elm family. There is little difference between
sapwood and heartwood which is yellowish grey to light brown with
yellow streaks. The wood is very susceptible to blue staining before
and after kilning and has irregular grain, occasionally straight
and sometimes interlocked, with a fine uniform texture.
Working properties
The wood planes and turns well and is intermediate in its ability
to hold nails and screws, and stains and polishes satisfactorily.
Hackberry dries readily with minimal degrade. It has a fairly high
shrinkage and may be susceptible to movement in performance.
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Physical properties
Hackberry is moderately hard, heavy and has medium bending strength,
high shock resistance but is low in stiffness. It has a good steam
bending classification.
Specific Gravity: 0.53 (12% M.C.)
Average Weight: 593 kg/m3 (12% M.C.)
Average Volumetric Shrinkage: 13.5% (Green to 6% M.C.)
Modulus of Elasticity: 8205 MPa
Hardness: 3914 N
Durability
Non-resistant to heartwood decay. Liable to attack by forest longhorn
and Buprestid beetle. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative
treatment but the sapwood is permeable.
Availability
USA: Reasonable in lumber but mainly in the thinner standard thicknesses,
and lower grades.
Export: Limited due to low demand, and concerns about internal staining.
Main uses
Furniture and kitchen cabinets, joinery, doors and mouldings. |
