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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Weathering		Scientific Name Olea europaea Trade Name Olive Family Name Oleaceae Common Names Olive Regions of Distribution Mediterranean Sea Region Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Greece, Iran, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, United States Common Uses Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Jewelry box, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Utility furniture, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Rare Status has not been officially assessed Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center A subspecies, O. europea ssp. maderensis is Rare Distribution Overview Olive is indigenous to the Mediterranean region including southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It grows especially in Italy and is in the same family as Ash (Fraxinus spp). The species is also cultivated in orchards throughout California, and is also found in Arizona and Florida. It prefer sub tropical or Mediterranean climates, especially hot, dry regions under irrigation. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Purple Yellow Pale brown Occasional dark streaks Occasional brown streaks Light tan Light reddish-brown to yellowish-brown The dark brown streaks and yellowish sapwood are reported to contrast to give the wood a very attractive appearance Sapwood Color Yellow Pink White Brown Yellowish Often striped Narrow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Brown - golden with brown streaks Grain Figure Closed Interlocked Growth rings (figure) Shallowly interlocked Closed Clear growth rings (figure) Annual rings are visible, and tangential surfaces are slightly figured Texture Medium Coarse Fine Luster Medium Natural Durability Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Durable Moderately durable Non-durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to termite attack Moderately durable Wearing properties or resistance to abrasion is high. Wood has little natural resistance to termite attack, and is somewhat resistant to fungi Weathering Poor Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Very mild kiln schedules are recommended Drying Defects Splitting Resin Exudation Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Checking Material obtained from branches usually contains reaction wood, which is particularly prone to warping Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Gum Exudation Thick Stock Requires Care Dries very slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Bark width is 10-15 mm Olive trees are extremely long lived (over1500 years). They are usually short, gnarly branched, with a short and stout trunk Product Sources Olive is cultivated in relatively large quantities for oil and olives. It is often not readily available in the timber trade. Occasionally, burl veneer, lathe billets, and carving flitches are available, but they are typically expensive. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Hard Heavy Strong Blunting Effect Little Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires sharp cutting edges. Wood should be well seasoned before use to avoid checks and warps in the final product. Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gum-Up Difficult to saw The wood is difficult to cut, especially across the grain, because of interlocked grain Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Excellent mortising properties Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results The wood is hard, but reports indicate that it is not very difficult to work, especially if cutting edges are kept very sharp Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Special attention required Material should be thoroughly seasoned before turning to prevent checking and warping in the finished product. Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent results The wood has excellent polishing characteristics, and has a natural waxy feel Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Numerical Data Item Green Dry English References Arno, J. 1988. Olea europa - Olive. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 252-253. Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know Your Woods: A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Dave Faison. Into the Woods. Personal Communication, 1993. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.