White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn with prominent medullary ray flakes (tiger stripes); straight and coarse texture with large open pores.
Color Description
Heartwood is light to medium brown, often with an olive cast; sapwood is light cream. Ages to a golden amber under film finishes.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores (making it water-resistant).
Common Uses
Furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boat building, barrels (cooperage), and interior joinery.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
Approx. $6.00 - $10.00 per board foot for quarter-sawn selects.
Wood Age Estimate
Vintage/Antique (approx. 50-100 years), evidenced by deep golden patina and characteristic early 20th-century furniture milling.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and sustainably harvested in North America; FSC certified options common.
Workability
Excellent with hand and machine tools; steam-bends well; produces moderate dulling of cutters due to density; glues and finishes reliably.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when freshly cut; high tannin content can cause dark stains if in contact with iron and moisture.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based polyurethane or shellac to highlight ray fleck; ammonia fuming is a traditional technique used on this species.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of large medullary rays (flakes) on a quarter-sawn face is a definitive diagnostic feature of White Oak.