Worldwide, the oaks (Quercus spp.) consist of 275 to 500 species that can be separated into three groups based on their microanatomy: the live or evergreen oak group, the red oak group (Erythrobalanus), and the white oak group (Leucobalanus). Species within each group look alike microscopically. The word quercus is the classical Latin name of oaks, said to be derived from Celtic fine and tree.
The commercial North American species are as follows:
Red Oak Group (Erythrobalanus)
Quercus coccinea bastard oak, black oak, buck oak, red oak, scarlet oak, Spanish oak, spotted oak
Quercus falcata American red oak, bottomland red oak, cherrybark oak, Elliott oak, red oak, Spanish oak, southern red oak, swamp red oak, swamp spanish oak, turkeyfoot oak, water oak
Quercus kelloggii black oak, California black oak, Kellogg oak, mountain black oak
Quercus laurifolia Darlington oak, diamond-leaf oak, laurel oak, laurel-leaf oak, swamp laurel oak, water oak, obtusa oak
Quercus nigra American red oak, blackjack, pin oak, possum oak, punk oak, red oak, spotted oak, water oak
Quercus nuttallii nuttall oak, pin oak, red oak, red river oak, striped oak
Quercus palustris pin oak, red oak, Spanish oak, Spanish swamp oak, Spanish water oak, swamp oak, swamp Spanish oak, water oak
Quercus phellos black oak, laurel oak, peach oak, pin oak, red oak, swamp willow oak, water oak, willow oak, willow swamp oak
Quercus rubra American red oak, black oak, buck oak, Canadian red oak, common red oak, gray oak, eastern red oak, leopard oak, Maine red oak, mountain red oak, northern red oak, red oak, Spanish oak, spotted oak, southern red oak, swamp red oak, water oak, West Virginia soft red oak
Quercus shumardii American red oak, Schneck oak, Schneck red oak, shumard oak, Shumard red oak, southern red oak, spotted bark, spotted oak, swamp red oak, Texas oak, Texas red oak
Quercus velutina American red oak, blackjack, black oak, dyer oak, jack oak, quercitron, quercitron oak, redbush, red oak, smoothbark oak, spotted oak, tanbark oak, yellowbark, yellow oak, yellowbark oak
White Oak Group (Leucobalanus)
Quercus alba American white oak, Arizona oak, Arizona white oak, forked-leaf white oak, Louisiana white oak, mantua oak, ridge white oak, stave oak, true white oak, West Virginia soft white oak, white oak
Quercus bicolor blue oak, cherry oak, curly swamp oak, swamp oak, swamp white oak, white oak
Quercus garryana Brewer oak, Garry oak, Oregon oak, Oregon white oak, Pacific post oak, Pacific white oak, post oak, prairie oak, shin oak, western oak, western white oak, white oak
Quercus lyrata American white oak, overcup oak, swamp post oak, swamp white oak, water white oak
Quercus macrocarpa blue oak, bur oak, burr oak, mossycup oak, mossy-overcup oak, overcup oak, scrub oak, white oak, white mossycup oak, white overcup oak
Quercus michauxii American white oak, basket oak, cow oak, swamp oak, swamp chestnut oak
Quercus muehlenbergii chestnut oak, chinkapin oak, chinquapin oak, dwarf chestnut oak, dwarf chinkapin, pin oak, rock oak, rock chestnut oak, running white oak, scrub oak, shrub oak, white oak, yellow oak, yellow chestnut oak
Quercus prinus American white oak, basket oak, chestnut oak, chestnut rock oak, chestnut swamp oak, cow oak, mountain oak, rock oak, rock chestnut, rock chestnut oak, swamp oak, tanbark oak, white oak, white chestnut oak
Quercus stellata American post oak, barren white oak, bastard oak, bastard white oak, box oak, box white oak, brash oak, Delta post oak, Durand oak, iron oak, pin oak post oak, ridge oak, rough oak, rough white oak, southern oak, turkey oak, white box oak, white oak
Live Oak Group
Quercus virginiana dwarf live oak, encino, live
oak, rolfs oak, scrub live oak,
Virginia live oak, Virginia oak
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout the United States.
The Tree: Oaks can reach a height of 125 ft (38 m), with large diameters.
General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of oak is white to very light brown, while the heartwood is light to dark brown in the white oak group and reddish brown in the red oak group. Oak wood has a course texture; it is heavy, straight-grained, hard, tough, very stiff, and strong. Fast-grown oak, with wide rings, is stronger and heavier than slow-grown oak.
Weighta
Weight
Species MC SG lb/ft3 kg/m3
Red Oak Group
Quercus coccinea Green 0.60 62 993
(scarlet oak) 12% 0.67 47 753
Ovendry 0.71 NA NA
Quercus falcata Green 0.52 62 993
(southern red 12% 0.59 41 657
oak)
Ovendry 0.62 NA NA
Quercus falcata Green 0.61 68 1,089
var. pagodifolia
(cherrybark oak) 12% 0.68 47 753
Ovendry 0.71 NA NA
Quercus Green 0.56 65 1,041
laurifolia
(laurel oak) 12% 0.63 44 705
Ovendry 0.70 NA NA
Quercus nigra Green 0.56 63 1,009
(water oak) 12% 0.63 44 705
Ovendry 0.68 NA NA
Quercus palustris Green 0.58 63 1,009
(pin oak) 12% 0.63 44 705
Ovendry 0.68 NA NA
Quercus phellos Green 0.56 67 1073
(willow oak) 12% 0.69 48 769
Ovendry 0.69 NA NA
Quercus rubra Green 0.56 63 1,009
(northern red 12% 0.63 44 705
oak)
Ovendry 0.66 NA NA
Quercus velutina Green 0.56 62 993
(black oak) 12% 0.61 43 689
Ovendry 0.67 NA NA
Weight—con.
Weight
Species MC SG lb/ft3 kg/m3
White Oak Group
Quercus alba Green 0.60 62 993
(white oak) 12% 0.68 48 769
Ovendry 0.71 NA NA
Quercus bicolor Green 0.64 69 1,105
(swamp white oak) 12% 0.72 50 801
Ovendry 0.79 NA NA
Quercus garryana Green 0.64 69 1,105
(Oregon white 12% 0.72 50 801
oak)
Ovendry 0.75 NA NA
Quercus lyrata Green 0.57 NA NA
(overcup oak) 12% 0.63 NA NA
Ovendry NA NA NA
Quercus Green 0.58 62 993
macrocarpa
(bur oak) 12% 0.64 45 721
Ovendry 0.67 NA NA
Quercus michauxii Green 0.60 65 1,041
(swamp chestnut 12% 0.67 47 753
oak)
Ovendry 0.76 NA NA
Quercus prinus Green 0.57 61 977
(chestnut oak) 12% 0.66 46 737
Ovendry 0.67 NA NA
Quercus stellata Green 0.60 63 1,009
(post oak) 12% 0.67 47 753
Ovendry 0.74 NA NA
Live Oak Group
Quercus Green 0.80 76 1,218
virginiana
(live oak) 12% 0.88 62 993
Ovendry 0.98 NA NA
aReferences: specific gravity, green and
12%, (98), except for Q. garryana (59);
specific gravity, ovendry, (59); weight,
(59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
Red Oak Group
Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak)
MOE 1.48 106 10.204 GPa 1.91 106 13.169 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 10.4 103 71.708 MPa 17.4 103 119.973
lbf/in2 lbf/in2 MPa
C| | 4.09 103 28.201 MPa 8.33 103 57.435 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.83 103 5.723 MPa 1.12 103 7.722 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 15.0 103.425 20.5 141.348
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,200 lbf 5,337.60 N 1,400 lbf 6,227.20 N
Hardness
1.41 103 9.722 MPa 1.89 103 13.031 MPa
Shear| | lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus falcata (southern red oak)
MOE 1.14 106 7.860 GPa 1.49 106 10.274 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 6.90 103 47.576 MPa 10.9 103 75.156 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.03 103 20.892 MPa 6.09 103 41.991 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.55 103 3.792 MPa 0.87 103 5.999 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 8.0 55.160 9.4 in-lbf/in3 64.813
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 kJ/m3
860 lbf 3,825.28 N 1,060 lbf 4,714.88 N
Hardness
Shear| 0.93 103 6.412 MPa 1.39 103 9.584 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia (cherrybark oak)
MOE 1.79 106 12.342 GPa 2.28 106 15.721 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 10.8 103 74.466 MPa 18.1 103 124.800
lbf/in2 lbf/in2 MPa
C| | 4.62 103 31.855 MPa 8.74 103 60.262 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.76 103 5.240 MPa 1.25 103 8.619 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 14.7 101.357 18.3 126.179
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,240 lbf 5,515.52 N 1,480 lbf 6,583.04 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.32 103 9.101 MPa 2.00 103 13.790 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus laurifolia (laurel oak)
MOE 1.39 106 9.584 GPa 1.69 106 11.653 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 7.90 103 54.471 MPa 12.6 103 86.877 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.17 103 21.857 MPa 6.98 103 48.127 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.57 103 3.930 MPa 1.06 103 7.309 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 11.2 77.224 11.8 81.361
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,000 lbf 4,448.00 N 1,210 lbf 5,382.08 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.18 103 8.136 MPa 1.83 103 12.617 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus nigra (water oak)
MOE 1.55 106 10.687 GPa 2.02 106 13.928 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.90 103 61.366 MPa 15.4 103 106.183
lbf/in2 lbf/in2 MPa
C| | 3.74 103 25.787 MPa 6.77 103 46.679 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.62 103 4.275 MPa 1.02 103 7.033 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 11.1 76.535 21.5 148.243
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,010 lbf 4,492.48 N 1,190 lbf 5,293.12 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.24 106 8.549 MPa 2.02 103 13.927 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
MOE 1.32 106 9.101 GPa 1.73 106 11.928 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.30 103 57.229 MPa 14.0 103 96.530 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.68 103 25.374 MPa 6.82 103 47.024 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.72 103 4.964 MPa 1.02 103 7.033 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 14.0 96.530 14.8 102.046
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,070 lbf 4,759.36 N 1,510 lbf 6,716.48 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.29 103 8.894 MPa 2.08 103 14.341 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Mechanical properties—con.
Property Green Dry
Quercus phellos (willow oak)
MOE 1.29 106 8.894 GPa 1.90 106 13.101 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 7.40 103 51.023 MPa 14.5 103 99.978 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.00 103 20.685 MPa 7.04 103 48.541 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.61 103 4.206 MPa 1.13 103 7.791 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 8.8 60.676 14.6 100.667
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
980 lbf 4,359.04 N 1,460 lbf 6,494.08 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.18 103 8.136 MPa 1.65 103 11.376 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus rubra (northern red oak)
MOE 1.35 106 9.308 GPa 1.82 106 12.549 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.30 103 57.229 MPa 14.3 103 98.599 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.44 103 23.719 MPa 6.76 103 46.610 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.61 103 4.206 MPa 1.01 103 6.964 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 13.2 91.014 14.5 99.978
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,000 lbf 4,448.00 N 1,290 lbf 5,737.92 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.21 103 8.343 MPa 1.78 103 12.273 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus velutina (black oak)
MOE 1.18 106 8.136 GPa 1.64 106 11.308 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.20 103 56.539 MPa 13.9 103 95.841 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.47 103 23.926 MPa 6.52 103 44.955 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.71 103 4.895 MPa 0.93 103 6.412 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 12.2 84.119 13.7 94.462
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,060 lbf 4,714.88 N 1,210 lbf 5,382.08 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.20 103 8.274 MPa 1.91 103 13.169 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
White Oak Group (Leucobalanus)
Quercus alba (white oak)
MOE 1.25 106 8.618 GPa 1.78 106 12.273 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.30 103 57.229 MPa 15.2 103 104.804
lbf/in2 lbf/in2 MPa
C| | 3.56 103 24.546 MPa 7.44 103 51.299 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.67 103 4.620 MPa 1.07 103 7.378 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 11.6 79.982 14.8 102.046
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,060 lbf 4,714.88 N 1,360 lbf 6,049.28 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.25 103 8.618 MPa 2.00 103 13.790 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus bicolor (swamp white oak)
MOE 1.59 106 10.963 GPa 2.05 106 14.135 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 9.90 103 68.261 MPa 17.7 103 122.042
lbf/in2 lbf/in2 MPa
C| | 4.36 103 30.062 MPa 8.60 103 59.297 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.76 103 5.240 MPa 1.19 103 8.205 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 14.5 99.978 19.2 132.384
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,160 lbf 5,159.68 N 1,620 lbf 7,205.76 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.30 103 8.963 MPa 2.00 103 13.790 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus lyrata (overcup oak)
MOE 1.15 106 7.929 GPa 1.42 106 9.791 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.00 103 55.160 MPa 12.6 103 86.877 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.37 103 23.236 MPa 6.20 103 42.749 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.54 103 3.723 MPa 0.81 103 5.585 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 12.6 86.877 15.7 108.252
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
960 lbf 4,270.08 N 1,190 lbf 5,293.12 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.32 103 9.101 MPa 2.00 103 13.790 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Mechanical properties—con.
Property Green Dry
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)
MOE 0.88 106 6.067 GPa 1.03 106 7.102 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 7.20 103 49.644 MPa 10.3 103 71.019 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.29 103 22.685 MPa 6.06 103 41.784 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.68 103 4.689 MPa 1.20 103 8.274 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 10.7 73.777 9.8 67.571
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,110 lbf 4,937.28 N 1,370 lbf 6,093.76 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.35 103 9.308 MPa 1.82 103 12.548 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus michauxii (swamp chestnut oak)
MOE 1.35 106 9.308 GPa 1.77 106 12.204 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.50 103 58.608 MPa 13.9 103 95.841 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.54 103 24.408 MPa 7.27 103 50.127 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.57 103 3.930 MPa 1.11 103 7.653 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 12.8 88.256 12.0 82.740
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,110 lbf 4,937.28 N 1,240 lbf 5,515.52 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.26 103 8.687 MPa 1.99 103 13.721 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak)
MOE 1.37 106 9.446 GPa 1.59 106 10.963 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.00 103 55.160 MPa 13.3 103 91.704 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.52 103 24.270 MPa 6.83 103 47.093 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.53 103 3.654 MPa 0.84 103 5.792 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 9.4 64.813 11.0 75.845
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
890 lbf 3,958.72 N 1,130 lbf 5,026.24 N
Hardness
Shear| 1.21 103 8.343 MPa 1.49 103 10.273 MPa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Quercus stellata (post oak)
MOE 1.09 106 7.515 GPa 1.51 106 10.411 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.10 103 55.850 MPa 13.2 103 91.014 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.48 103 23.995 MPa 6.60 103 45.507 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.86 103 5.930 MPa 1.43 103 9.860 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 11.0 75.845 13.2 91.014
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
1,130 lbf 5,026.24 N 1,360 lbf 6,049.28 N
Hardness
Shear| | 1.28 103 8.825 MPa 1.84 103 12.686 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Live Oak Group
Quercus virginiana (live oak)
MOE 1.58 106 10.894 GPa 1.98 106 13.652 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 11.9 103 82.051 MPa 18.4 103 126.868
lbf/in2 lbf/in2 MPa
C| | 5.43 103 37.440 MPa 8.90 103 61.366 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 2.04 103 14.066 MPa 2.84 103 19.582 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 12.3 84.809 18.9 130.316
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
NA NA NA NA
Hardness
Shear| 2.21 103 15.237 MPa 2.66 103 18.340 Mpa
| lbf/in2 lbf/in2
aReference (98).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final
moisture content)
Type of shrinkage 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
Tangential
Red Oak Group
Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak) 10.8 7.8 3.2
Quercus falcata (southern red oak) 11.3 NA NA
Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia 10.6 NA NA
(cherrybark oak)
Quercus laurifolia (laurel oak) 9.9 NA NA
Quercus nigra (water oak) 9.8 7.4 3.1
Quercus palustris (pin oak) 9.5 7.6 3.2
Quercus phellos (willow oak) 9.6 NA NA
Quercus rubra (northern red oak) 8.6 6.6 2.7
Quercus velutina (black oak) 11.1 7.8 3.2
White Oak Group
Quercus alba (white oak) 10.5 7.2 3.0
Quercus bicolor (swamp white oak) NA NA NA
Quercus lyrata (overcup oak) 12.7 NA NA
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) 8.8 7.0 2.9
Quercus michauxii (swamp chestnut 10.8 8.6 3.6
oak)
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak) 10.8 7.8 3.2
Quercus stellata (post oak) 9.8 7.8 3.3
Live Oak Group
Quercus virginiana (live oak) 9.5 7.6 3.2
Radial
Red Oak Group
Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak) 4.4 3.7 1.5
Quercus falcata (southern red oak) 4.7 NA NA
Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia 5.5b NA NA
(cherrybark oak)
Quercus laurifolia (laurel oak) 4.0 NA NA
Quercus nigra (water oak) 4.4 3.4 1.4
Quercus palustris (pin oak) 4.3 3.4 1.4
Quercus phellos (willow oak) 5.0 NA NA
Quercus rubra (northern red oak) 4.0 3.2 1.3
Quercus velutina (black oak) 4.4 3.6 1.5
White Oak Group
Quercus alba (white oak) 5.6 4.2 1.8
Quercus bicolor (swamp white oak) NA NA NA
Quercus lyrata (overcup oak) 5.3 NA NA
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) 4.4 3.5 1.5
Quercus michauxii (swamp chestnut 5.2 4.2 1.7
oak)
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak) 5.3 4.4 1.8
Quercus stellata (post oak) 5.4 4.3 1.8
Live Oak Group
Quercus virginiana (live oak) 6.6 5.3 2.2
Drying and shrinkage—con.
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final
moisture content)
Type of shrinkage 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
Volumetric
Red Oak Group
Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak) 14.7 11.0 4.6
Quercus falcata (southern red oak) 16.1 NA NA
Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia 16.1 NA NA
(cherrybark oak)
Quercus laurifolia (laurel oak) 19.0 NA NA
Quercus nigra (water oak) 16.1 13.1 5.5
Quercus palustris (pin oak) 14.5 11.6 4.8
Quercus phellos (willow oak) 18.9 NA NA
Quercus rubra (northern red oak) 13.7 10.8 4.5
Quercus velutina (black oak) 15.1 11.4 4.7
White Oak Group
Quercus alba (white oak) 16.3 12.6 5.3
Quercus bicolor (swamp white oak) NA NA NA
Quercus lyrata (overcup oak) 16.0 NA NA
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) 12.7 10.2 4.2
Quercus michauxii (swamp chestnut 16.4 13.1 5.5
oak)
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak) 16.4 13.4 5.6
Quercus stellata (post oak) 16.2 13.0 5.4
Live Oak Group
Quercus virginiana (live oak) 14.7 11.8 4.9
aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20%, (90).
bReference (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4, 8/4 10/4 12/4 16/4
Species 6/4 stock stock stock stock
stock
Western oaksb T3-B1 T3-B1 NA NA NA
Upland red oaksc T4-D2 T3-D1 T3-C1 T3-C1 NA
Lowland red T2-C1 Table NA NA NA
oaksd 113
Upland white T4-C2 T3-C1 T3-B1 T3-B1 NA
oakse
Lowland white T2-C1 Table NA NA NA
oaksf 113
aReferences (6, 86).
bCalifornia black, Oregon white, canyon live.
cBlack, blackjack, cherrybark, northern pin, northern
red, scarlet, Schumard,
southern red, turkey, water.
dCherrybark, laurel, nuttall, pin, Shumard, water,
willow.
eBlue, bur, chestnut, chinkapin, Emory, Gambel, Mexican
blue, post, white.
fBur, live, overcup, swamp chestnut, swamp white,
white.
Working Properties: Oak wood has good working properties. It machines and glues well and holds fasteners extremely well. It tends to split when nailed, unless predrilled. Oak finishes well, but shrinks considerably.
Durability: The oaks are rated with respect to resistance to heartwood decay as follows (98):
Very resistant bur oak, chestnut oak, Gambel oak, Oregon oak,
post oak and white oak
Moderately resistant swamp chestnut oak
Slightly to nonresistant black oak and red oak
Preservation: The heartwood of the white oak group is resistant to impregnation with preservatives, whereas that of the red oak group is more easily penetrated.
Uses: Ships, railroad crossties, timber bridges, tannin dyes, fuel wood, hardwood dimensions and flooring, furniture, veneer, plywood, barrels, kegs and casks (white oak group), truck and trailer beds, mining timbers, containers, pallets, caskets, boxes, paneling.
Toxicity: May cause allergic bronchial asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis (40, 64, 105).
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74, 78. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.