White Oak (Quarter-sawn)
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn with prominent medullary rays (tiger-stripe figure). The grain is straight with a coarse, uneven texture and visible vessel pores.
Color Description
Medium to dark brown heartwood with golden highlights. The sample shows significant oxidation and ambering from an aged oil-based finish. Sapwood is typically light tan but not visible in this specimen.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable. High tannin content provides excellent resistance to rot, decay, and liquids, making it a primary choice for boat building and tight cooperage.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, wine barrels (cooperage), and interior millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
8.00 - 14.00 USD per board foot for high-grade quarter-sawn stock.
Wood Age Estimate
40-70 years based on the heavy oxidation, characteristic ambering of the topcoat, and mechanical wear patterns consistent with mid-20th-century utility.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available with FSC certification; highly sustainable due to large domestic growing range.
Workability
Excellent with both hand and machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Hardness can cause moderate dulling of cutters; pre-drilling for screws is required.
Notable Features
Distinctive medullary rays visible in quartered faces. High tannin content can react with iron/steel to cause black staining. Distinct oak-like scent when freshly worked.
Finish Recommendations
Penetrating oils or amber-toned polyurethanes to highlight the medullary rays. Responds well to fuming with ammonia to darken the wood chemically.
Identification Confidence
High. The presence of long, distinct medullary rays (ray fleck) combined with ring-porous grain structure is a diagnostic characteristic of quarter-sawn White Oak.