WOOD TYPE

Common names: Amerian White Oak, Oak American white, White oak, chestnut oak.

Botanical classification: Millettia Quercus alba, Q. prinus, Q. montana, Q. lyrata, Q. michauxii. Fam.: Fagaceae.

GENERAL

Main products: Sawn wood, veneer.

Natural attributes - structure - origins: Heavy wood (760 kg/m³) with coarse and uneven structure and color ranging from pale yellow-brown to yellow-gray with a pinkish tinge, similar to the European oak. Straight grained with a characteristic silver grain in quarter sawn wood. Southern areas produce fast growing trees with broad annual growth rings and a harder timber. It grows in the United States and Southeast Canada.

Natural durability in time: The heartwood is durable. The sapwood suffers intensely from insect attacks.

Mechanical attributes: Wood with medium flexural strength, with low modulus of elasticity which is amenable to steam bending.

Density: R (12-15%) = 0.76 g/cm³

WOOD PROPERTIES AND PROCESSING OPERATIONS

Drying behavior and stability after drying: Drying relatively slowly with a tendency for checking, splitting and honeycombing. Requires careful air or kiln drying. Medium movement after drying.

Impregnation behavior: The sapwood is moderately resistant and the heartwood is resistant to impregnation.

Bending behavior: Excellent.

Working properties - tool blunting: The slow-growing oak (northern regions) is easier to process with tools and machines.

Νailing and screwing: Good, but predrilling is recommended.

Gluing behavior: Special attention required as gluing behavior varies.

Dyeing and finishing: Good dyeing and finishing.

APPLICATIONS

More versatile than European oak, suitable for furniture and cabinets, woodworking, heavy construction, flooring, shipbuilding, ladders, agricultural tools, wagons, cooperage, coffins, pews - church pulpits, woodcuts. Decorative veneers.