Wood composite prepared with a B-stageable resin

The invention is directed to a wood composite formed using a B-stageable phenol-formaldehyde resin system capable of rapidly curing in a saturated or superheated steam atmosphere. A method for making a consolidated wood product comprising coating wood components with a B-stageable, phenol-formaldehyde resole resin; heating the coated wood components to about 80 to 140° C. for a time sufficient to advance the resin to a B-stage; forming a mat or stack of the wood components coated with the B-stage resin; exposing the mat or stack of coated wood components to a saturated or superheated steam atmosphere in a hot press; and compressing the layup to form the consolidated wood product. The phenol-formaldehyde resole resin used in the method has a number average molecular weight of between about 200 and 600, has a F:P mole ratio of about 1.3:1 to 2.0:1, and has been modified with 0 to about 5.5 wt % of caustic based on resin solids.