European Oak

[Baldhead]

Stupid question, where in Europe does European Oak come from?

Baldhead

 

[marcros]

all over. A lot is from France or Eastern Europe at the moment.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

All over the place. France has been a big source since that hurricane although I think a lot of that stock has dried up now. Eastern Europe is another source. Not sure about the UK. For some specialist jobs (green oak) I know we harvest one offs just not sure if that's literally an individual tree or small stand or if there is a more industrial process here
Edit....we crossed in the ether Marcos

 

[tomouse]

France and Poland are big suppliers at the moment but as stated above the French supply is either drying up a little or they have realised they were too cheap as the import price is rising.

The quality of the French timber was great, very similar to homegrown Oak, plenty of character and pip with a beautiful colouring. The Polish stuff tends to be slightly faster grown and very straight therefore wider growth rings and plainer grain patterning, Not a bad thing, I just like the more interesting and erratic grain patternings of more western grown Oak. Also the fast growth leads to a slightly less stable timber.

I have just started exporting Oak to the UK from here in Croatia, previously it all went to Italy and never made it to the UK. Balkans Oak is fantastic stuff, great colouration and grain patterning and very straight trees. We divide it into Hill and planes grown, each with their own characteristics. Great timber and a good price to......

 

[Shrubby]

I've worked with oak from the UK and France where it's grown commercially on a large scale
Matt

 

[dzj]

Yeah, Croatian oak from the Slavonia region...excellent stuff!