The green weight of white oak is approximately 5,573 pounds per cord. This measurement reflects the weight of the wood including its natural moisture content immediately after being cut.
Understanding Wood Weight and Moisture
The weight of wood, especially "green" wood, is significantly influenced by its water content. Wood cells are filled with water, and this moisture contributes substantially to the overall weight. As wood dries, it loses much of this water, leading to a reduction in weight.
A cord is a traditional unit of volume for firewood and pulpwood, typically measuring 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long, totaling 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. However, this volume includes air space; the actual solid wood content within a cord varies but is generally around 60-90 cubic feet, with 80 cubic feet being a common estimate.
White Oak Green vs. Dry Weight
Comparing green weight to dry weight helps illustrate the amount of water present in the wood. Below is a comparison of white oak's green and dry weights, along with other wood species for context:
| Species | Green Weight (pounds per cord) | Dry Weight (pounds per cord) |
|---|---|---|
| Oak, White | 5573 | 4200 |
| Osage-Orange | 5120 | 4728 |
| Pine, Eastern White | 2780 | 2250 |
| Pine, Jack | 3200 | 2488 |
As seen in the table, white oak loses a considerable amount of weight when dried, indicating its high moisture content in its green state.
Practical Implications of Green Wood Weight
Understanding the green weight of white oak is crucial for several practical applications:
- Transportation: The heavy nature of green white oak means higher transportation costs and requires more robust equipment for hauling. For instance, a truck carrying multiple cords of green white oak will experience significant strain.
- Sawmilling: Sawmills must account for the substantial weight when handling logs, affecting machinery capacity and operational efficiency.
- Drying and Seasoning: The weight difference between green and dry wood is a key indicator during the drying process. Lumber mills often monitor weight reduction to determine when wood has reached an acceptable moisture content for use in construction or manufacturing.
- Fuelwood: While green wood is heavier, it has lower energy content per pound because a significant portion of its weight is water, which must be evaporated before the wood can burn efficiently. Dry wood provides more heat per unit of weight.
For approximate conversions, if a cord of white oak contains roughly 80 cubic feet of solid wood, then green white oak weighs about 69.66 pounds per cubic foot (5573 lbs / 80 cubic feet). This can further be approximated to around 5.8 pounds per board foot (69.66 lbs/cu ft divided by 12 board feet/cu ft), though board foot conversion factors can vary.
