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Oak Mantel Clocks: What Kind of Wood is Most Common?
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Oak Mantel Clocks: Wood Species Commonly Used for Mantel Clocks
What’s one of the most important aspects you should consider while buying a mantel clock? It’s the wood material it is made of. The wood species of mantel clock determine its durability and longevity. For this reason, oak wood is one of the most popular choices for mantel clocks.
Mantel clocks made with premium oak wood are not only long-wearing but also extremely elegant. These characteristics of an oak mantel clock make it a one-of-a-kind timepiece you will cherish for years to come.
What Makes Oakwood the Best Material for Mantel Clock?
Oakwood has been clockmakers’ favorite for plenty of reasons. Before we go in-depth with different oak species used for mantel clocks, below are some prominent features found in most of the oakwood types.
Moisture-Resistant: Being a hardwood, oakwood is dense and non-porous, which makes it resistant to moisture and shrinkage.
Fungi-Resistant: High quantities of tannin are naturally found in oakwood, making it highly resistant to fungi and insects. This is the reason why oak trees are long-lived.
Distinctive Grain Pattern: The straight-grained pattern is a distinguished feature of oakwood, which is found in both white and red oak species.
Color Variation: White oak is found in various hues, ranging from light beige to brown. Red oak is on the vibrant, rosier end of the shade spectrum, making it a suitable choice for mantel clocks.
Here are two of the most-sough-after oak wood species that are commonly used for crafting antique mantel clocks:
1. White Oak
White oak or Quercus Alba is preferred by most woodworkers and traditional clockmakers for a variety of reasons, including:
Creamy Light Color: The most prominent feature of white oak wood is its distinctive white to light brown color shade range.
Tight Grain Pattern: White oak has a less pronounced grain pattern, unlike red oak. However, the grain is tight and uniform, giving it a sleeker appearance.
Durability: Just like other premium hardwoods, white oak is preferred for its resistance to cracking and rotting. Moreover, this oak species endures the humidity and other weather conditions well, making it less prone to wear and tear.
Accessibility: Maple trees grow in abundance; therefore, this wood is readily available in many regions. This aspect makes this wood choice a more affordable option than other exotic wood species.
Workability: One of the best aspects is that it is easy to work with both hands and machines. Due to its workability, it bends, glues, and stains well.
2. Red Oak
Although this type of oak is not as durable as others, its other qualities make it a good choice for crafting premium-quality oak mantel clocks.
Rich Color: The heartwood(inner layer) is light, medium brown with a reddish cast. Meanwhile, its sapwood(outer layer) is lighter but not distinguishable.
Straight Grain with Uneven Texture: Red oak wood has a straight grain with curl, wavy and uneven texture.
Easy to Work with: Thanks to its dense and sturdy nature, walnut wood is easy to work with using both tools and hands. This feature makes it suitable for intricate craftsmanship and detailing.
Availability: Compared to other wood materials, red oak is readily available in most regions. The easy availability makes it a low-cost and most favored timber option for oak mantel clock manufacturing.
The following 3 types of oak wood species are not as commonly used for crafting oak mantel clocks, but may be available if desired.
3. English Oak
English oak or European oak is a type of white oak that is natively found in Europe and is highly preferred among clockmakers for its strength, resistance, and attractive grain pattern.
Unique Color: English oak has a beautiful light to medium brown shade with a distinctive olive cast.
Durability: Compared to most other oak species, this type is known for its durability and resistance to rot, decay, and water.
Straight Grain: European oak has a straight grain with an uneven, coarse texture, and some even feature interlocked or irregular grain.
4. Chestnut Oak
Chestnut oak is another popular type of white oak and is prized for its distinctive appearance and durability. Some of the features are mentioned here:
Appearance: Chestnut oak has appealing light to medium shade with fairly coarse grain and medium to large pores.
Durability: This type of oakwood is so sturdy that it’s even used in fencing and railway ties. The enduring nature of chestnut oak makes it rot-resistant and the perfect wood material to be used for oak mantel clocks.
Workability: As this wood is denser than others, it can be a bit harder to saw and machine. It also happens to be a plus point, making it easier to finish and stain.
5. Willow Oak
It’s a type of red oak commonly found in the eastern and central United States. This particular type is prized for its aesthetic appeal and workability. Here are some more notable features:
Color Variety: Willow oak exhibits a variety of shade ranges. In this type of oak, you can find light to medium brown, as well as reddish-brown color, making it a versatile wood material option for oak mantel clocks.
Fine Grain: Willow oak is a strong, hard wood with fine grain and medium to large pores.
Availability: Willow oak is not easily available compared to other species. For this reason, the wood type is not as affordable as other options, yet it’s moderately priced.
Workability: This oak wood can be easily sawn, sanded, and machined. Moreover, it’s easier to stain and finish, making it painless to craft oak mantel clocks with intricate details.
Get Your Amish-Made Oak Mantel Clock from Old Time Chimes!
Finding the perfect oak mantel clock can be overwhelming. If you are looking for one, have a look at our Amish-made shelf and mantel clock collection. Besides oakwood, you can also find other wood varieties, including maple, cherry, walnut, ash, hickory, and elm.
Besides the diverse wood collection, you can get many aspects of your mantel clock customized as per your liking. Get in touch with us now, and we’ll craft the one-of-a-kind mantel clock for you.
