|
American white oak (Quercus spp.)
Other names: Northern white oak, Southern white oak
Click to enlarge
Distribution
Widespread throughout Eastern USA. The white oak group comprises
many species, of which about eight are commercial.
General description
White oak is similar in colour and appearance to European oak.
The sapwood of American white oak is light coloured and the heartwood
is light to dark brown. White oak is mostly straight grained with
a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays than red oak. White
oak therefore has more figure.
Working properties
White oak machines well, nails and screws well although pre-boring
is advised. As it reacts with iron, galvanised nails are recommended.
Its adhesive properties are variable, but it stains and polishes
to a good finish. The wood dries slowly and care is needed to avoid
checking. Due to its high shrinkage, it can be susceptible to movement
in performance. For additional information, please see the structural
applications page and the pre-treatment
properties page.
|
|
|
|
Machining |
|
|
Nailing |
|
|
Screwing |
|
|
Gluing |
|
|
Finishing |
|
|
Physical properties
A hard and heavy wood with medium bending and crushing strength,
low in stiffness, but very good in steam bending. Southern white
oak is faster grown with wide growth rings, and tends to be harder
and heavier.
Specific Gravity: 0.68 (12% M.C.)
Average Weight: 769 kg/m3 (12% M.C.)
Average Volumetric Shrinkage: 12.6% (Green to 6% M.C.)
Modulus of Elasticity: 12,273 MPa Hardness: 6049 N
* Values for Q. alba
Durability
The heartwood is resistant to decay, extremely resistant to preservative
treatment, and the sapwood is moderately resistant to treatment.
Availability
USA: Readily available but not as abundant as red oak.
Export: Very widely available in lumber and veneer, in a full range
of qualities and specifications. The most important hardwood export.
Main uses
Construction, furniture, flooring, architectural joinery, exterior
joinery, mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, panelling, railway
sleepers, timber bridges, barrel staves, coffins and caskets. White
oak can vary in colour, texture, characteristics and properties
according to the growing region. It is therefore recommended that
users and specifiers work closely with their suppliers to make sure
the wood they order is suited to their specific needs. Northern
and Southern may be sold separately.
|
|