Technical data sheet

North American red oak, white oak & black walnut

Lumber and natural veneer in high AA and AB quality, shipped directly to you from the factory in North America. Full species properties, grades and supply specifications below.

American White Oak American Red Oak American Black Walnut Supply specs

At a glance

White oak · Red oak · Black walnut

Property	American White Oak	American Red Oak	American Black Walnut
Janka hardness	1,360 lbf(6.0 kN)	1,290 lbf(5.7 kN)	1,010 lbf(4.5 kN)
Specific gravity (12% MC)	0.68	0.63	0.55
Average dried density	≈ 755 kg/m³(≈ 47 lb/ft³)	≈ 700 kg/m³(≈ 44 lb/ft³)	≈ 610 kg/m³(≈ 38 lb/ft³)
Modulus of rupture	105 MPa(15,200 psi)	99 MPa(14,300 psi)	101 MPa(14,600 psi)
Modulus of elasticity	12.3 GPa(1,780,000 psi)	12.5 GPa(1,820,000 psi)	11.6 GPa(1,680,000 psi)
Shrinkage (green → oven-dry)	T 10.5% · R 5.6%	T 8.6% · R 4.0%	T 7.8% · R 5.5%
Heartwood durability	Durable	Non-durable — interior use	Very durable (decay); interior & exterior

North America

American White Oak

Quercus alba

Origin — Eastern United States & south-eastern Canada

Colour — Light to medium brown with a subtle olive cast; pale sapwood

Grain — Straight grain, medium-to-coarse texture, long medullary rays (strong ray fleck when quarter-cut)

Pores are sealed with tyloses, so white oak resists liquid penetration — the classic choice for flooring, wet areas, cooperage and boat building.

Physical & mechanical properties

Janka hardness: 1,360 lbf(6.0 kN)
Specific gravity (12% MC): 0.68
Average dried density: ≈ 755 kg/m³(≈ 47 lb/ft³)
Modulus of rupture: 105 MPa(15,200 psi)
Modulus of elasticity: 12.3 GPa(1,780,000 psi)
Shrinkage (green → oven-dry): T 10.5% · R 5.6%
Heartwood durability: Durable

Veneer cuts available

Plain sliced (crown cut)
Quarter sliced — pronounced ray fleck
Rift cut — straight grain, minimal fleck

Typical uses

Flooring
Kitchen & bath cabinetry
Architectural millwork
Furniture
Doors & stairs
Wall panelling

Working properties — Machines, glues, stains and finishes very well; excellent for steam-bending. Pre-drill near ends. Dry slowly to avoid checking.

North America

American Red Oak

Quercus rubra (northern red oak)

Origin — Eastern United States & southern Canada

Colour — Light to medium brown with a warm reddish-pink cast

Grain — Straight grain, coarse open texture; northern-grown red oak has a tighter, more uniform grain

Open, porous end grain takes stain evenly and deeply — ideal for interior furniture, cabinetry and flooring where a rich, uniform colour is wanted.

Physical & mechanical properties

Janka hardness: 1,290 lbf(5.7 kN)
Specific gravity (12% MC): 0.63
Average dried density: ≈ 700 kg/m³(≈ 44 lb/ft³)
Modulus of rupture: 99 MPa(14,300 psi)
Modulus of elasticity: 12.5 GPa(1,820,000 psi)
Shrinkage (green → oven-dry): T 8.6% · R 4.0%
Heartwood durability: Non-durable — interior use

Veneer cuts available

Plain sliced (crown cut)
Quarter sliced
Rift cut
Rotary cut

Typical uses

Flooring
Furniture
Cabinetry
Interior joinery & mouldings
Doors
Panels

Working properties — Easy to machine with hand and power tools; holds nails and screws well, glues satisfactorily and finishes beautifully. Not recommended for exterior or wet applications.

North America

American Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Origin — Eastern & central United States

Colour — Rich chocolate-brown heartwood, sometimes with grey, purple or reddish tones; pale sapwood

Grain — Usually straight, sometimes wavy or curly; medium texture with a natural lustre. Figured crotch and burl available

North America's premium dark hardwood — prized for luxury furniture, executive interiors and statement veneer panels. Very low T/R shrinkage ratio (≈1.4) makes it notably stable.

Physical & mechanical properties

Janka hardness: 1,010 lbf(4.5 kN)
Specific gravity (12% MC): 0.55
Average dried density: ≈ 610 kg/m³(≈ 38 lb/ft³)
Modulus of rupture: 101 MPa(14,600 psi)
Modulus of elasticity: 11.6 GPa(1,680,000 psi)
Shrinkage (green → oven-dry): T 7.8% · R 5.5%
Heartwood durability: Very durable (decay); interior & exterior

Veneer cuts available

Plain sliced (crown cut)
Quarter sliced
Rotary cut
Figured crotch & burl

Typical uses

Luxury furniture
Executive & hotel interiors
Wall panelling
Cabinetry
Flooring
Yacht & automotive interiors

Working properties — Easy to work with hand and machine tools when the grain is straight; glues and finishes beautifully (rarely stained). Steam-bends well. Use dust extraction — walnut dust can be a sensitiser.

Supply programme

Lumber & veneer specifications

Standard specifications for red oak, white oak and black walnut shipped from North American mills. Custom thicknesses, lengths and matching available on request.

Sawn lumber

Thickness: 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4 (25 – 50 mm); thicker on request
Species: Red oak, white oak and American black walnut
Grades (NHLA): FAS, FAS/1F, Select, No.1 Common (walnut graded under NHLA walnut rules)
Moisture content: Kiln-dried to 6 – 8%
Lengths: 8 – 16 ft (2.4 – 4.9 m), random widths
Surfacing: Rough (RGH) or surfaced two sides (S2S)
Origin: Shipped direct from North American sawmills

Natural veneer

Species: Red oak, white oak and American black walnut
Face grades: AA, A and AB natural veneer
Thickness: 0.5 mm and 0.6 mm standard; thick-cut on request
Cuts: Plain sliced, quarter sliced, rift cut (oak), rotary, figured walnut crotch & burl
Formats: Bundled flitches or spliced faces 1220 × 2440 mm (4 × 8 ft)
Matching: Book-matched or slip-matched, sequenced on request
Origin: Sliced and shipped direct from North American mills

Grading

What AA, AB and FAS mean

Premium architectural face

The highest veneer face grade: smooth, tight-cut leaves, full-length and carefully matched from the same flitch, with minimal natural characteristics.

Select natural face

Clean, high-grade veneer with slightly more natural colour and grain variation than A — small, sound natural features are allowed. Excellent value for cabinetry and furniture.

FAS

Firsts & Seconds lumber

The top NHLA lumber grade: boards 6″+ wide and 8′+ long yielding 83⅓% to 100% clear-wood cuttings on both faces.

We supply high AA and AB natural wood and veneer quality, shipped to you directly from the factory in North America — graded at the mill, documented and traceable.

Request oak pricing

Sources: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook; National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grading rules; ANSI/HPVA HP-1 Standard for Hardwood and Decorative Plywood. Values are averages for clear wood at ~12% moisture content and vary naturally between logs.