Antique Oak
Wood with a history
Our Antique Oak lumber is permanently wormfree – guaranteed!
Whether White Oak or Red Oak, climate change is having a noticeable impact on our oak populations. And this doesn’t refer to the rise in temperature and increasing dryness, but a beetle that benefits from these climatic changes and leaves tiny traces in more and more oaks:
The Oak Pinhole Borer (Patypus cylindrus) is a native pest that was relatively rare in the past but is now spreading more widely in our forests. It burrows its way into the heartwood, leaving behind fine worm grooves. These are visible in cut boards and planks as small round holes with a diameter of approximately 1.8 mm.
Ambrosia fungi settle in these borings, serving asfood for the beetle and its larvae. Since fungi need a humid environment, the Oak Pinhole Borer only infests moist or living wood.
To prevent the spread of the beetle, the infected trees must be cut down and removed from the forest.
In cross-section, the feeding tunnels of the oak pinhole borer are clearly visible right into the heartwood.
The images were kindly provided by the Northwest German Forest Research Institute
(Nordwestdeutschen Forstlichen Versuchsanstalt (NW-FVA)).
In the longitudinal section, the small round boreholes are visible in the planks and boards, giving the wood its antique look.
Dried Oak lumber is and remains permanently worm-free.
Ambrosia fungi settle in the galleries of the oak pinhole borer, serving as food for the beetle and its larvae. Since fungi need a humid climate, the oak pinhole borer only infests damp or living wood. When a tree is cut, air drying alone ensures that the ambrosia fungi can no longer form anew, which eliminates the fungal mycelium as a food source for the oak pinhole borer and its larvae.
Subsequent drying in special drying chambers over several days at temperatures exceeding 60°C ensures that all beetles and larvae in the timber are killed.
Our well dried Oak lumber is ready to be crafted into your new favourite piece of furniture or incorporated into your construction project.
Antique oak – a contribution to sustainable German forestry
Our commitment to quality includes always supplying our customers with the best products in the price range. Wormholes used to be considered a flaw, even if the wood was otherwise knot-free and deemed the best AA grade. Often, this valuable wood was chipped, resulting in a very good material being put to suboptimal use. As the proportion of worm-infested wood increases, more wood would be destroyed than necessary and more trees would have to be felled to meet the needs of carpenters, joiners, furniture makers and DIY enthusiasts.
That‘s why we decided to offer the Antique Oak grade.
Choose from our range of authentic, high-quality oak and benefit from excellent value for money.
“Those who love wood with history will find the best wood for their projects with antique oak.”
Jan Stoll
Antique look “without worm inside”
Antique Oak is one of six wood grades in our range. These square edged boards are just as versatile as all our woods. Whether you need a statement dining table, cosy wood paneling or an exclusive garden gate, there are no limits to your design ideas – both indoors and outdoors.
The Antique Oak grade comprises lumber in qualities ranging from AA to Rustic 2. Small wormholes made by the oak pinhole borer (Patypus cylindrus) give the wood its distinctive, historic appearance.
Kiln drying at high temperatures effectively kills any
beetles in the wood, as well all larvae or eggs. The result is an antique look that is permanently worm-free.
