World of Wood

The Wonderful World of Wood:

European Oak:

• "Quercus robur"
• "Quercus petraea"

Other names:

• English.
• French
• Polish oak etc, (according to country of origin)

Sources:

• Europe, Etc.
• North Africa.

Tree Characteristics:

• The tree can reach a height of 100ft or more, depending on growth conditions.
• It produces a trunk up to 6ft 6in in diameter.

Characteristics of the wood:

• A coarse textured and straight grained wood, with distinct growth rings and broad rays that give an attractive figure when quarter sawn.
• The sapwood is much paler than the pale yellowish brown colour ofthe heartwood.
• It is a tough wood, but oaks grown in central Europe are lighter and milder than those from Western Europe.
• The wood is durable but acidic and will cause ferrous metals to corrode.
• It has good steam bending properties.

Workability:

• It readily works with hand and machine tools, but sharp cutting edges must be matained.
• It glues satisfactorily.

Average dried weight:

• 45lb/cuft.

Finishing:

• It can be treated with stain, liming or fuming, and finishes well with all types of polish.

Common uses:

• Furniture.
• Joinery.
• External woodwork.
• Flooring.
• Carving.
• Boatbuilding.
• Veneer.