Cutting Hickory for Bark-On Furniture: Timing and Technique

Amish bent-hickory furniture makers cut trees in fall and winter when sap is down. This ensures the bark bonds tightly to the wood and won't separate during drying. After cutting, they steam the hickory to make it pliable for bending—a process that also kills powderpost beetles and larvae.

If you're harvesting hickory for similar work, follow the same seasonal window and consider steam treatment for both workability and pest control.