Commercial names: (1) white oak (USA); (2) chestnut oak (USA); (3) overcup oak (USA); (4) swamp chestnut oak (USA). Also marketed with regional names, e.g. Appalachian oak, northern or southern oak.
Distribution: Eastern USA and South Eastern Canada.
General description: Varies in colour from pale yellow-brown to biscuit with a pinkish tint, similar to European oak. Straight grain, with the characteristic silver grain on quartered material. Appalachian oak is slow grown producing light weight, mild wood, but southern states produce fast grown oak with wide growth rings, and a harder, tougher timber. Medium to coarse textured. Weight averages 760 kg/m3 (47 lb/ft3); specific gravity .76.
Mechanical properties: The wood has medium bending and crushing strengths with low stiffness which makes it an excellent steam bending material.
Seasoning: Dries relatively slowly with a tendency to check, split and honeycomb, and
requires careful handling for air drying and kilning. There is medium movement in service.
Working properties: Vary according to rate of growth. Slow grown oak being much easier to work with hand and machine tools. The timber takes nails and screws well, although preboring is advised; its gluing properties are variable; stains and polishes to a good finish.
Durability: Logs are liable to severe insect attack. The heartwood is durable and extremely resistant to preservative treatment, and the sapwood is moderately resistant.
Uses: Milder than European oak to work and suitable for furniture and cabinetmaking,
joinery, heavy construction, parquet and strip flooring, pews and pulpits, boat-building, ladder rungs, agricultural implements, wagon bottoms, tight cooperage and coffins. Rotary cut for plywood and sliced for highly ornamental veneers for panelling and decorative veneering.