[sandy paper]

We had a tornado in st charles mo last night. My Inlaws home was ok but the neighbors were leveled. My inlaws had a huge pecan tree that came down. This tree was there when their kids grew up and has had swings, tree house and tones of pictures so it mean a lot to them. I would like to save some of the wood and make them some kind of Box or frame or im open for ideas. Is this wood good to work with? Thank you for any help!

 

[dodgeboy77]

30 years or so ago we bought a pecan coffee and end table from a department store - we still have them and I'm surrounded by them at this moment. Actually, I'm sure it's a veneer but it has nice curly grain and a medium brown appearance. That said, I don't know what it's like to work with, but it can be attractive.

Our friend Phinds says that it is very similar to and often mixed with hickory: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/pecan.htm Here is another link on Pecan/Hickory: http://www.hardwoodinfo.com/articles/view/pro/24/313/ It's one of the strongest hardwoods and is tough to work with hand tools. Here's one more link: http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/pecan/

As far as projects (and I'm sure they will appreciate one from a tree with such sentimental value), a box would be good and maybe a clock or a wall hanging of some sort? Guys here will have lots of ideas. If it's big, maybe cut a slab and make a table top or bench from it?

That's a nice project idea you have and I'm sure the in-laws will appreciate it.

Bill

 

[RogerInColorado]

It has a distinctive and beautiful grain. I built a sort of music cabinet / book shelf for our organist about 8 years ago.. I swore that was my last hickory project. It has a lot of interlocking grain and it is hard and it chips out pretty readily. We moved a fewl years ago and my wife ordered hickory cabinets. A couple of months ago she decided she wanted cubbys in the laundry room to match. It is still hard, still prone to chip out, but still beautiful. Now she wants more storage in the basement, hickory. I'm learning to work with it and I am learning patience. It is beautiful when it is finished without stain and it is beautiful when it is stained. Some people can tell the difference between hickory and pecan just by looking at it. I'm not one of them.

 

[snookfish]

They sell Pecan next to Hickory down here in Texas for about the same price as oak. I've made a few cutting boards with Pecan and it works similar to oak so I don't see why you couldn't use it to make all of the things you mentioned.