10 Amazing Facts About Oak

Oak wood is a common wood cut from oak trees and it’s frequently used to build household furniture because of its strength, durability and stunning grain appearance. It’s often used around the house for doors, chairs, tables and even floors. It’s classified as hardwood with more than 600 species, red oak and white oak being the most popular for woodworking projects.

Did you know that oak is one of the most beautiful and sought after materials? Well, there may be a few more things you don’t know about oak. Here are 10 fascinating facts about oak trees and oak wood that might ‘wow’ you:

1. Oak trees vary in appearance and size but also in lifespan. Most long-lived oak species live for about 150-200 years but some can live to 1000 years like the Quercus Virginiana in Louisiana that have been estimated to be about 1,500 years old.
2. Something not many people are aware of is that it can actually take a period of twenty years for an oak tree to start producing acorns and depending on the climate the oak tree is thriving in, it can sometimes take up to fifty years for the first production of acorns.
3. Did you know that oak often finds itself in the production of wine stoppers? Made from Cork Oak, the plant grows throughout the Mediterranean region of the world with Spain, Alegria, Portugal and Morocco being the primary produces.
4. As well as being used for furniture production oak is also used to manufacture barrels for storing wine, whiskey, brandy and other liqueurs. The oak wood adds a special aroma to these beverages and gives them a unique flavour, colour and taste.
5. Oak wood has a density of 0.75 grams per cubic centimetre, which is more than pine wood that contains 0.43 grams per cubic centimetre. Therefore, oak wood is regarded as the most durable, hard and fungal-resistant material, mainly used for making high-quality European Oak furniture and doors.
6. Did you know that oak wood is used to make professional drums? You may have heard of Yamaha Drums well; this brand uses oak wood to make professional drums that produce a brighter and louder tone.
7. Oak wood used to be used for making garden furniture as well as interior furniture. The oak panels in the debating chamber of the House of Commons speak best for the durability of this wood. It was also used for shipbuilding as well, until it was replaced by metal and iron later in the 19th century.
8. Fascinatingly, English oak is one of the most popular oak wood species used for making European Oak furniture. This oak is attractive because of its durability and attractive dark and light rings. This type of wood belongs to the group of Quercus robur and can be found in most parts of Europe and North Africa.
9. Oak is officially one of the strongest woods in the world. It’s almost five times the robustness of Scots pine and this led to the Romans giving the wood the name “robur” the same term that they used for “strength”. The toughness of solid oak is one of the reasons it’s used to make burial caskets and coffins for important figures such as Edward the Confessor whose oak casket lies at Westminster Abbey.
10. Did you know oak was the main material used to make some of the speediest pirate ships? Back in the 15th and 16th century, oak was the wood of choice when it came to building some of the strongest and fastest pirate ships that ever sailed the seven seas. British oak was particularly favoured because it was extremely waterproof and was resistant to warping making it ideal for creating grand and intimidating boats.

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