White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn with prominent medullary rays (flakes/flecking), coarse texture, and straight grain.
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood with an Olive cast; sapwood is off-white to light brown. Darkens slightly with age to a rich golden brown.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in heartwood pores; good insect resistance.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), interior trim, and heavy construction.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 to $12.00 per board foot depending on figure intensity and width.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern era (last 20-40 years) based on the clarity of the quarter-sawn figure and standard semi-gloss finish.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and sustainably harvested in North America; FSC certification common.
Workability
Good results with machine and hand tools. High shrinkage during drying. Reacts with iron fasteners (to produce blue/black stains) due to high tannins.
Notable Features
High tannin content (reactive to iron), distinct 'whiskey barrel' scent when worked, and large medullary rays visible in quartered sections.
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to oil-based stains, polyurethane, and lacquer. High-tannin content makes it an ideal candidate for ammonia fuming.
Identification Confidence
High. The prominent medullary ray flecks (flake figure) and open-pored grain structure are diagnostic of quarter-sawn White Oak.