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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Quercus garryanna Trade Name Oregon white oak Family Name Fagaceae Common Names Brewer oak, Garry oak, Oregon oak, Oregon white oak Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Boxes and crates, Caskets, Cooperages, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Millwork, Mine timbers, Pallets, Posts, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs from south-western British Columbia southward to central California in the Coastal ranges and Sierra Nevada. It is usually found in pure stands or in a mixture with other oaks in valleys and on mountain slopes at elevations of up to 3000 feet (914 m) in the north, and 1000 to 5000 feet (305 to 1524 m) in the south. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange White Red Tan Slight green tinge Pale yellowish gray-brown Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Whitish to light brown Grain Even Usually straight Broad, prominent rays produce a flecked figure on quartersawn surfaces Texture Coarse Medium Luster Medium Low Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable The heartwood is naturally resistant to decay, but untreated sapwood will decay rapidly if left in contact with the ground Odor Has an odor No characteristic odor or taste when dry Resin Content Oregon white oak has very good resistance to wear Kiln Schedules US=T3-B1/T3-B1 Table 293 (6/4) Table 292 (4/4) Table 291 (4/4-5/4) Table 290 (6/4-8/4), starting with Step 3 T3-C1 (8/4) Air-Dry to 20 percent MC then use the above schedule. Drying Defects Splitting Checking Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Discoloration Drying the timber too rapidly may cause defects such as end and surface checking. Wetwood may cause honeycomb, collapse, and ring failure, and poor air circulation may cause gray sap stain in the sapwood Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Medium to High Shrinkage The timber requires carefully controlled drying conditions in order to prevent degrade, especially for lumber that is going to be used for interior applications such as flooring, furniture, and millwork. Air-seasoning to reduce moisture content to 20 percent before kiln drying has been suggested for upper grade material Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm The tree is reported to resemble eastern White oak (Q. alba ), and is planted for shade and ornament. It produces a dense, rounded, and spreading crown, with stout branches, and is sometimes shrubby Product Sources Various species in the white oak group, including Oregon white oak, are mixed together for commercial purposes. Supplies are abundant, especially in the form of veneers, at moderate prices. Certified Source Certified Source Comments High tannin content tends to promote staining if the wood is brought into contact with certain metals under moist conditions Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Oregon white oak is described as hard and heavy, and tends to dull tool edges rather considerably Boring Bored surfaces are smooth Bored holes are often uniform in size Cutting Resistance Easy to saw A hook angle of 15 to 20 degrees, a sharpness angle of 55 degrees and slow feed rates have been recommended in sawing Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results The wood is reported to bond well under moderately controlled conditions. To prevent sunken glue lines from machining, glued joints should be cured or dried carefully Mortising Responds well to mortising operations Bores readily with ordinary tools, with very good results Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Wood is heavy and hard Wood is hard Pre-boring required Holds nails well Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds very well to machining Good planing properties Most planed pieces (85 percent) are usually without defects. Reduced cutting angles and proper sharpness angles have been recommended in planing and other machining operations to prevent charring and/or rough surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is difficult to treat Heartwood is very difficult to treat Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanded surfaces are relatively smooth and scratch-free. Sandpaper wear is rather rapid because of the density and hardness of the wood Screwing Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring recommended Holds screws firmly Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well Most turned pieces are free of defects (85 percent) Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Tends to Degrade Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Excellent Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Well defined Grain filling may be required to achieve the best results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Color uniformity is rather difficult to achieve because of color variation between heartwood and sapwood. For dramatic color changes, dyes and transparent stains are recommended. Excess pigment should be removed carefully if heavily pigmented stains are applied. Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties The timber is described as exceptional in most strength properties, and is noted for its hardness, toughness, resiliency, and abrasion resistance. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10094 psi Crushing Strength 2068 psi Hardness 1627 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Shearing Strength 1980 psi Stiffness 1078 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.68 Weight 48 39. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 709 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 145 kg/cm2 Hardness 738 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Shearing Strength 139 kg/cm2 Stiffness 75 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.68 Weight 769 624. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada Constantine, Jr. A.J. 1975. Know your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition, Revised by Harry J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner and Sons, New York Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Niemiec, S.S., G.A. Ahrens, S. Willits, and D.E. Hibbs. March, 1995. Hardwoods of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Research Contribution 8, Forest Research Laboratory, Department of Forest Products, Corvallis, Oregon.