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What are oak trees? What are Oak Trees ? Oak trees create up the Genus Quercus. They are hardwood trees that are extensive in the North Temperate Zone

By: john fanthorpe


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What are oak trees?
What are Oak Trees ? Oak trees make up the Genus Quercus. They are hardwood trees that are extensive in the North Temperate Zone. Oak trees have clustered flowers, but they are straightforwardly recognized by their distinctive fruit, the acorn. They grow in a array of habitats, from seacoasts to high mountain slopes and from wet lowlands to high, dry mesas.
More info about oak trees : Flowering occurs in the spring, before the new leaves become visible, and large quantities of pollen are shed into the wind. The trees may be deciduous (losing their leaves in the fall) or evergreen.

Is oak a hardwood?

Easy rule: If a tree drops its leaves, it's considered a hardwood. If it has needles, it's considered a softwood. Although the wood from hardwood trees is commonly harder, Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow Pine (softwoods) are much harder than poplar (hardwood). Hope this helps.

What is Quarter Sawn Oak?
Oak first became the wood of choice during the Middle Ages when Gothic furniture was first produced, and then continued to be popular throughout the 17th century. Quarter cut oak boards known as wainscot were brought to Northern Europe as early as the 14th century. Although there are so numerous different types of oak including Red Oak, White Oak and Live Oak, White Oak is usually used for quarter sawing. Throughout the early 20th Century, quarter sawn oak furniture became one of the hallmarks of the Arts & Crafts style. At the same time as other materials became incorporated into the style like mahogany and ebony, quarter sawn oak remains the wood of preference Since then, quartersawn lumber has fallen out of favor during the first half of this century for the reason that it yields less lumber per tree and takes more labor than plain sawing.

With most furniture being plain sawn today, quarter sawn oak furniture have be converted into prized period pieces and are therefore an significant key to accurately recreating the true look of Arts & Crafts wood furniture. Quarter sawing means cutting at a 90-degree angle from the growth rings on a log to create a vertical and uniform pattern grain. The grain on the face of a quarter-sawn timber will be parallel lines that are straight, tight and run the length of the timber. The closer the growth rings are to being 90-degrees from the face of the plank, the better the chance to getting the famous medullary ray flecks. Additional aesthetics incorporate wavy and interlocked grains. Structural benefits to quarter sawn oak include that it reduces twisting, warping and cupping, holds finishes better, and does not allow liquids to readily pass through it. Quarter sawn lumber is valued more than plain sawn lumber because of the larger time it takes to turn out.

The production of plain sawn lumber is much more efficient as it allows woodworkers to cut lumber quicker and produces less waste. Quarter sawn lumber on the other hand, takes longer. To quarter saw a log, first a log has to be cut into quarters. A board will then be cut off one face, and then the next timber will be cut from the opposite face. The faces will be alternated until the quarter is completely cut. A quarter sawn piece radiates elegance and accepted beauty. The extra work put into it is admirable and the results truly stand out. When you own a traditionally- built Arts & Crafts piece, your unit will only get better with age, making it a heirloom that will proudly remain part of your family for years.

For joinery that is often manufactured with the use of this method visit www.jfjoinery.co.uk

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Sawing methods used for Oak hardwood to convert into a material suitable to be used for the production of Oak windows,doors and flooring by www.jfjflooring.co.uk and www.jfjoinery.co.uk

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