Botanically, the olive(Olea europea) belongs to the oil family (Oleaceae) and is mainly found in the Mediterranean region, in Italy, Greece, Spain and parts of North Africa. Olive trees are among the oldest trees in the world. They reach an age of over 2,000 years. The wood comes from olive tree crops that are no longer productive.
Heartwood yellow-grey to salmon-colored, sapwood strikingly light. Heartwood streaked with dark olive-brown stripes. Pores fine and scattered, arranged in radial groups, barely perceptible to the naked eye. Medullary rays particularly small. Fiber course mostly irregular. Very decorative.
Density at u=12% is 0.85 (0.80…1.00) t/m3. The shrinkage from the freshly juiced state to u=12% is specified as 7.8% tangential and 3.8% radial. Drying must be slow, as there is a pronounced tendency to crack. Olive can be worked well with all tools. Planed and turned surfaces are remarkably hard. The Brinell hardness of Olive is given as 45…52.
Olive is conditionally durable, but is not used in direct weathering.
High-quality turner’s wood, suitable for writing instruments and wind instruments. Parquet only available in small dimensions. Limited applications due to limited availability.
| Sources: |
GOTTWALD 1970: Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers |
Note: according to the latest findings, but excluding any liability
