American white oak

Botanical & Other Names

• Quercus alba, also known as Northern/Southern White Oak,

Origin

• North America

Certification

• Typically un-certified but very sustainably managed forests
• FSC possible but not particularly common

Grain

•  It is mostly straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, and with longer rays and more figure than Red Oak. It has large distinctive growth rings and some medullary rays may be present.

Workability

• American White Oak is a hard and heavy wood, with low stiffness and medium crushing and bending strength. It also has extremely good steam bending properties. American White Oak is easy to machine, nail, glue and screw. It stains easily and can take a wide variety of colours. It is a slow-drying wood, so care needs to be taken to avoid checking. Also, given its high shrinkage rate, under variable moisture conditions it is susceptible to some movement.

Resistance

• Termite Resistance                 Not Resistant
• Lyctid Resistance                    Sapwood susceptible
• Marine Borer Resistance       N/A
• Bushfire                                   Bal 12.5 and 19, AS3959 required applications
•  Fire Properties Group           3 – Slightly combustible

Stock Sizing

• Sawn thickness 25, 38 & 50mm
• Random width generally 75-300mm in 25mm increments
• Set width available in 25mm material
• Length range 0.9m to 4.2m

For finished dressed and profiled products refer to Austim sizing chart or contact us.