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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 Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Quercus robur Trade Name European oak Family Name Fagaceae Common Names Austrian oak, Chene, Common English oak, Eiche, Eik, English oak, European oak, European white oak, French oak, Penduculate, Pendunculate oak, Polish oak, Quercia, Rovere, Skogsek, Slavonian oak, Valhynian oak, Yugoslavian oak Regions of Distribution Africa, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Foundation posts, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Posts, Railroad ties, Sills, Tables, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview European oak is native to Europe, N. Africa, and W. Asia. It is more abundant in France, Poland, Yugoslavia, and the Baltic countries. European oak is the most common forest tree in Great Britain, especially Wales. It is found in pure stands, and in mixed forests where it is often the dominant species. The species has also naturalized locally in southeastern Canada and northeastern United States, and is also planted in the southeastern and Pacific states. The tree is cultivated in moist soils, and is usually found along roadsides and on the edge of forests. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Yellowish brown White to cream Light tan to deep brown Sapwood Color White Paler than heartwood Well defined The distinct sapwood is the same but a lighter color of the heartwood. It is about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) wide. Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Stripe (figure) Growth rings (figure) Even Rays (figure) Other (figure) Distinct and very fine figure Striped figure Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Rays figure Other figure Generally straight, but not always Broad rays produce a silver grain figure on quarter sawn surfaces. May be irregular or cross dependent on growing conditions. Texture Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Plain sawn oak exhibits a distinct growth-ring figure like other ring-porous hardwoods. Luster Lustrous Slightly lustrous Wood structure and quality are heavily influenced by growth conditions. Typically the wood has alternating bands of large-pored early wood and dense late wood, but timber from slow growing trees may have very narrow late wood zones, and are therefore soft and light in weight. Central European oak trees are reported to grow slowly and relatively evenly and produce wood of uniform color and straight grain, while wood from northern Europe is typically harder and tougher. Natural Durability Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to pinhole borers Non-resistant to termites Durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood resistant to decay Logs and green lumber are susceptible to attack by ambrosia beetles (pinhole-borer). The sapwood is vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles and the common furniture beetle. Odor No specific smell or taste Corrosive Properties Reacts with metals Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 US=T3-C2/T1-C1 UK=C Drying Defects Moderate end spitting Moderate surface checking Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate twist/warp Warping can be expected Slight end splitting Honeycombing possible Expect splits Checking A yellow stain, which eventually disappears, is also common during drying. Ease of Drying Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Difficult Shrinkage is high Dries very slowly Subject to degrade especially during the initial drying stages Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Forest grown trees are reported to produce straight, clear boles that are sometimes up to 50 feet (15 m) in length. Product Sources Supplies of the brown variety of European oak is limited since it is in high demand for special uses and effects. Price is in the high range when it is imported into the US. Oaks native to the United States are usually substituted for the common type of English oak since they have the same uses. Availability in long lengths, wide boards and in the form of veneers is variable on the European market. Prices are in the medium to expensive range. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood is described as acidic and may cause corrosion in some metals, such as iron and steel, which come in contact with it. Vapors from green material may also be very corrosive. Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate Moderate effect Blunting effect on machining is variable Denser wood may blunt cutting tools at a more rapid rate than lighter woods. Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Satisfactory sawing properties Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Working properties vary with density Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good finishing results Movement in Service Medium Small Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning Large Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Holds nails well Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Planes to a poor finish A reduced angle of 20 degrees is recommended in planing material containing cross and irregular grain. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Variable qualities Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Easy to machine Degree of difficulty in working with hand tools is reported to depend upon the density of the wood. It ranges from medium to high. Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good characteristics Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Requires pre-boring Holds screws firmly Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Responds satisfactorily Wood working properties are reported to vary with density Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer European oak trees stained brown by the beef-steak fungus become the popular Brown oak. These are converted into highly decorative veneers which have naturally stained, attractively varied colors that are impossible to match with any artificial process Steam Bending Very good Good Wood moisture content should be reduced to 25 percent before steam bending, since green material has a tendency to rupture on the inner surface. The bent material should be dried slowly during the setting period, and to prevent staining, the steamed wood should be kept away from iron or iron compounds. Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results High finish Staining Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Finish is generally good Good characteristics Varnishing Good results Well defined Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = large Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Heavy Fairly hard Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Dense Crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high English brown oak is the product of trees that have been stained brown by the beef-steak fungus (Fistulina hepatica ). Seasoning the wood is reported to kill the fungus. This variety of English oak is highly desired as a decorative wood for paneling and joinery. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8787 14081 psi Density 44 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1122 lbs Impact Strength 33 31 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3817 6718 psi Shearing Strength 1838 psi Stiffness 1308 1544 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 7 10 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 43 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 617 990 kg/cm2 Density 705 kg/m3 Hardness 508 kg Impact Strength 83 78 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 268 472 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 129 kg/cm2 Stiffness 91 108 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.65