White Oak (Quarter-sawn)
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight, tight, and uniform rift/quarter-sawn grain with visible medullary rays (fleck) and a coarse texture.
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast. Sapwood is nearly white to light brown. Darkens slightly with age to a more golden amber tone.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores; often used in boatbuilding.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, barrel making (cooperage), boatbuilding, interior trim, and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
Approximately $8.00 - $12.00 per board foot for premium quarter-sawn stock.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern processing; the lack of deep oxidation or wear suggests a sample less than 5-10 years old, likely a contemporary flooring or veneer product.
Sustainability Status
Widely available and sustainable; not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; FSC certification common.
Workability
Excellent results with hand and machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well, though large pores may require filling for a smooth finish.
Notable Features
Characteristic 'oak' scent when worked; high tannin content can cause blue-black staining when in contact with iron and water.
Finish Recommendations
Water-based polyurethanes maintain the light color. Oil-based finishes enhance the figure. Responds exceptionally well to fuming with ammonia to darken the wood.
Identification Confidence
High; the distinct ring-porous structure, color, and linear quarter-sawn grain pattern with visible ray fleck are diagnostic of white oak.