I see lots of info about white oak and red oak but no one ever talks about water oaks. Have alot around here in alabama anyone know any good uses for it and what is not good for?
I cut it and use it just like red oak. It's hard and smells nasty, but looks just as good as red oak when dry.
Water Oak is one of the Red Oaks. It and Laurel Oak are the most prevelant Red Oaks in the south East. They make good lumber, but, as in most Southern hardwoods, the grain is course and wide because they grow so fast. The are also susceptible to heart rot (they live on wet ground) and are frequently attacked by insects (borers). I think that water oak and laurel oak are beautiful woods and have seen many pieces of furniture made from them. Of the two, Laurel is the longest living and usually the better lumber comes from it, but neither are long lived trees. The life expectancy of a Water oak is in the 60 to 80 year range and laurel oak 80 to 100. They live longer, but begin to deteriorate fast after that.
They aren't used for tight cooperage because their tyloses aren't closed like white oak. But they are used for dry cooperage, furniture, flooring, cabinets, panelling and do well inside. Don't use their lumber for outside projects, unless you just have to. The wood isn't rot resistant.
hey thanks for the info, thats one thing i was needing to know about weather to use it outside or not.
Tom is on the money. Good clear water oak logs will cut fine red oak lumber that is indistinguishable from other red oak lumber in the trade.
Let the sap wood on the water/laurel oak spalt and you really have a beautiful board. We make flooring and paneling out of both all the time.
Mark
The life expectancy of a Water oak is in the 60 to 80 year range and laurel oak 80 to 100. They live longer, but begin to deteriorate fast after that.
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Boy Your oaks don't last too long down South, Up here they are just getting going at 60 years old.
Stonebroke
We live hard and fast, Stonebroke. Here, hold my beer and watch this! :D