BillyBob wrote:

I've come across a source of pecan that is virtually unlimited and free.
Does anyone have any experience working with or finishing pecan? What can
you tell me about it?

Bob


This is probably more than you want to know about pecan.

(from: http://www.exotichardwoods-northamer...canhickory.htm )


Mechanical Values

Category Green Dry Units
Weight 47 lbs/cu.ft.
Density (air-dry) lbs/cu.ft.
Specific Gravity 0.60 0.66
Hardness 1820 lbs
Stiffness 1370 1730 1000 psi
Bending Strength 9800 13700 psi
Shearing Strength 2080 psi
Max. Crushing Strength 3990 7850 psi
Work to Maximum Load 15 14 in-lbs/in3
Radial Shrinkage (G-OD) %
Tangential Shrink. (G-OD) %
Volumetric Shrink (G-OD) %

Environmental Profile
Pecan is rather widespread, abundant, and secure globally, although it
may be rare in some areas at the periphery of its range (Source - The
Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on
the number of occurrences of the species globally).

Distribution
This species is reported to be distributed in Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National
Park, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, and Virginia. It is usually found in mixed hardwood forests, and
prefers to grow in moist, well-drained soils of river flood plains and
valleys.

Product Sources
It is not known at present whether timber from this species is
obtainable from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible
sources.

Pecan is reported to be available at a moderate price on the U.S. market
in the form of lumber, veneers and plywood.

Tree Data
The state tree of Texas, Pecan is reported to occur in the wild and is
also cultivated. The largest member of the Hickories, it usually grows
to heights of about 160 to 170 feet (49 to 52 m), with trunk diameters
of about 72 to 84 inches (180 to 213 cm). Pecan trees are reported to
have very long lives, with some trees reaching the age of 350 years.

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is white to pale brown in color.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is rich reddish brown in color, and may contain streaks of
slightly darker hue.

Grain
Grain is reported to be typically straight, but may occasionally be
irregular or wavy.

Texture
The wood has a coarse texture.

Odor
There is no characteristic odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
The material is reported to dry fairly easily and rapidly, although it
requires care because of fairly high shrinkage.

Drying Defects
Slow drying with poor air circulation may cause chemical sapwood stains.
End checks and hairline splits may also occur.

Kiln Schedules
T8 - D3 (4/4); T6 - D1 (8/4) US

Movement in Service
The timber is reported to have high dimensional stability, and holds its
place well in use.

Natural Durability
Pecan is reported to be vulnerable to the hickory bark beetle, and also
succumb easily to frost damage. It is also susceptible to attack by
fungi and insects.

Resistance to Impregnation
The wood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Mineral Deposits
Magnesium carbonate deposits are reported to be often present and 'Bird
pecks' leave residue that crystallizes.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on cutting edges is reported to vary from moderate to
severe.

Cutting Resistance
The wood is reported to be rather difficult to saw.

Planing
Pecan is reported to require careful machining, but it planes well,
although a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended in working
stock with irregular grain.

Turning
The wood is characteristically very easy to turn.

Moulding
A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is required in moulding wood
containing irregular grain.

Boring
Boring properties are reported to be very good.

Mortising
The wood has exceptional mortising properties.

Gluing
Gluing properties are reported to be satisfactory.

Nailing
The material is reported to respond rather poorly to nailing.

Screwing
The wood is fairly easy to screw.

Sanding
The timber is reported to require careful sanding to achieve the
smoothest surface.

Polishing
The wood responds to polishing to yield a smooth finish.

Staining
The material takes stains well.

Steam Bending
Steam bending properties are reported to be generally good.

Strength Properties
Pecans can be differentiated from true Hickories by weight, and by the
narrow bands of parenchyma, which appear between the rays and between
the large earlywood pores. (In hickories the band occurs after the first
row of earlywood pores). Strength properties of C. illinoensis are
reported to be similar to those of other hickories. Bending strength in
the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high, and
maximum crushing strength, or compression strength parallel to grain, is
also high. It is hard - harder than Teak, and does not marr or dent
easily. The wood is very heavy.