It is extremely strong, dense, durable and resistant to fungal attacks, which makes it less prone to decay and rotting. Oak is considered one of the finest and sturdiest materials to work with in woodworking. Its flexibility makes it as desirable for artistic pieces as well as complex architectural projects.
Pros: Oak wood is very durable and often cut in a way that makes it resistant to warping. Because of its visible wavy grain, it has a distinctive look. A clear finish nicely highlights the grain. Cons: Stain can overly darken and exaggerate the grain, so it can end up looking two-toned.
As a hardwood, oak has a natural strength and longevity and can put up with a lot of abuse compared to other woods. Even compared to other hardwoods such as mahogany, it is exceptionally strong and hardwearing.
John Boos & Co. Deals Primarily in Four Hardwoods
As you can see in the accompanying graph, rock maple is the hardest of these four hardwoods - about 15% harder than red oak, which ranks second. Black walnut ranks third in hardness - about 20% below red oak. Cherry is another 5% or so softer than walnut.
Teakwood is one of the hardest and most durable of all natural woods. It is resistant to rotting, sunlight, rain, frost, and snow, making it suitable for outdoor construction and furniture. However, it is expensive and sometimes hard to find.
Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF
An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.
A: If red oak is dried too quickly when the moisture content is more than 50 percent MC, the stresses that develop will crack the wood on the surface. Such cracks are called surface checks. It is common that these checks will close (but not heal) as drying proceeds.
The Short Answer
Oak is a sturdy, class-two timber known for its outstanding durability, high fungal resistance, an indefinite lifespan. With proper care, oak furniture can last for a lifetime!
An untreated Oak beam, which is classed as 'durable', for example, will last 15-25 years depending on environmental conditions. The following scale of durability was outlined by TRADA, the Timber Research And Development Association.
In short, the aging of wood, unlike that of cheese, does not make it better. Nor does it improve its strength. It is still possible that old wood joists may in fact be significantly stronger than they were on the day they were installed, because wood does gain strength as it dries.
As oak is a very dense, hard wood, it doesn't scratch or damage easily, so oak furniture is always a solid investment that will last for years.
It depends on what you need as to which is better for you. Oak is longer-lasting, while pine is friendlier on your wallet while still being sturdy and attractive.
In fact, you can leave oak untreated with confidence. Oak is a resilient wood. For this reason, its use in construction dates back centuries. As a durable, long-lasting wood with an attractive grain, it'll still be popular in years to come.
Species of oak (especially European) generally finish very well and are highly resistant to absorbing water, guarding against warping.
Why Does Oak Wood Change Colors Over Time? Oak wood may darken slightly over time, taking on more amber tones. This happens due to exposure to oxygen and UV light, making it a largely unavoidable process.
Oak is one of the least expensive hardwood types for wood furniture, along with brown maple.
The Janka Hardness Scale is indicative of White Oak woods strength and workability in contrast to other woods as with its 1360 lbf ranking, White Oak wood is stronger than Ash wood (1320 lbf), Red Oak wood (1120 lbf), Walnut wood (1010 lbf) and Cherry wood (950 lbf).
This is because the boards are once again taking in the natural moisture from their surroundings. When solid oak boards become highly exposed to changeable moisture and humidity levels, much more serious problems can occur. Two of the most common problems caused by moisture are cupping and crowing.
Last week we concluded that treatment of oak is not entirely necessary unless it is kiln dried. You can if you wish to protect it from mold, algae, fungal attack and UV damage, but for the most part you leave it as it arrives fresh sawn.
Oak: Boat frames are also sometimes made out of oak, so you know that's a good sign for moisture resistance! Oak is a flexible and durable wood that's also used for furniture and flooring. You can rest easy knowing that your oak wood won't start to warp at the first sign of moisture.
Characteristics of balsa wood make it a unique hardwood albeit, when weight for weight basis is excluded, it is the weakest of all commercial species.
It's common knowledge, but Balsa is indeed the softest and lightest of all commercial woods. Nothing else even comes close.
Most experts are of the opinion that the Australian Buloke, which is an ironwood tree, provides the hardest wood in the world, with a Janka hardness rating of 5,060 lbf. Others argue that Quebracho (which translates to 'ax-breaker' in Spanish) is the tree with the hardest wood in the world.