White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight with a medium-to-coarse texture; end grain shows prominent large pores (ring-porous) and distinct, long medullary rays typical of the Quercus genus.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is nearly white to light brown and it is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. It tends to darken slightly with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,350 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; known for its high resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the heartwood pores which make it nearly water-tight.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrel making (cooperage), and interior trim.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$4.00 - $8.00 per board foot depending on grade and cut (Quarter-sawn commands higher prices).
Wood Age Estimate
The log appears to be fresh to recently felled (weeks to months) based on the bright color of the face and the radial checking (cracks) beginning to form from drying.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and not CITES listed. FSC certification is common.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools, though it has a moderately high shrinkage rate. It glues, stains, and finishes well. Can react with iron fasteners leading to blue/black staining when wet.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic odor when being worked. High tannin content makes it suitable for fuming with ammonia to darken the color. Very strong and heavy with excellent steam-bending properties.
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to oil-based finishes, polyurethane, and lacquer. Penetrating oils highlight the grain and medullary rays effectively.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of the deeply furrowed bark, visible medullary rays on the end grain, and the ring-porous structure is characteristic of White Oak.