California Black Oak

California Black Oak (Q. rubra pictured)

Common Name(s): California Black Oak, Kellogg Oak Scientific Name: Quercus kelloggii Distribution: Western United States Tree Size: 65-80 ft (20-25 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 40 lbs/ft3 (635 kg/m3) Basic Specific Gravity: .51 Hardness: 1,100 lbf (4,890 N) Bending Strength: 8,700 lbf/in2 (60,000 kPa) Elasticity: 990,000 lbf/in2 (6,830 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 3.6%, Tangential: 6.6%, Volumetric: 10.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium reddish-brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. White Oak tends to be slightly more olive-colored, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

Grain/Pore: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain.

Durability: Falls somewhere between slightly durable to non-durable. Red oaks such as California Black Oak do not have the level of decay and rot resistance that White Oaks possess.

Workability: Easy to glue, and takes stain and finishes very well.

Smell: Has a tell-tale smell that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Slightly less expensive than White Oak, Red Oak is in good/sustainable supply and is moderately priced. Thicker 8/4 planks, or quartersawn boards are slightly more expensive per board foot.

Comments: California Black Oak falls into the red oak group, and shares many of the same traits as Red Oak (Quercus rubra). Red Oak, along with its brother White Oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species. Hard, strong, and moderately priced, Red Oak presents an exceptional value to woodworkers—which explains why it is so widely used in cabinet and furniture making.

Related Species:

• Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
• Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
• Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)
• Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)
• English Oak (Quercus robur)
• Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)
• Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
• Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)
• Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata)
• Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
• Post Oak (Quercus stellata)
• Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
• Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
• Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)
• Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)
• Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)
• Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
• Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)
• Water Oak (Quercus nigra)
• White Oak (Quercus alba)
• Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this exact wood species, but a similar species within the Red Oak grouping is being substituted (Q. rubra). If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.

Red Oak (sanded)

Red Oak (sealed)