Water Oak

Quercus nigra · Hardwood · North America

Janka 1,190 lbf≈39 lb/ft³ dried (est.)

Properties

Janka hardness	1,190 lbf (5,293 N)
Average dried weight (est.)	39 lb/ft³ (630 kg/m³)
Specific gravity	0.63
Modulus of rupture	15,400 psi (106.2 MPa)
Modulus of elasticity	2.02 million psi (13.93 GPa)
Crushing strength	6,770 psi (46.7 MPa)
Shrinkage — radial	4.4%
Shrinkage — tangential	9.8%
Shrinkage — volumetric	16.1%
Shrinkage T/R ratio	2.2

Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–11; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.

Water oak is a member of the red oak group, and red oak lumber is not separated by species in the trade. It is remanufactured into flooring, furniture, general millwork, boxes, pallets and crates, agricultural implements, caskets, and handles.

Appearance & grain

As with the red oak group generally, the sapwood is nearly white and roughly 2 to 5 cm wide, and the heartwood is brown with a tinge of red. Quartersawn red oak lumber is distinguished by broad, conspicuous rays.

Workability

Red oak is a heavy wood with fairly high shrinkage on drying, and rapidly grown second-growth stock is generally harder and tougher than finer-textured old growth. Its open pores make it unsuitable for tight cooperage unless the barrels are lined, and ties, mine timbers, and fence posts require preservative treatment for satisfactory service.