White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1,360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable; high resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores, making it suitable for water-sensitive applications.
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Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a coarse, uneven texture. The sample shows a flat-sawn cathedral pattern with prominent, open pores typical of the Quercus genus.
Color & Appearance
The sample is finished with a dark espresso or jacobean stain. Naturally, the heartwood is light to medium brown with an olive cast; sapwood is white to light brown. It darkens over time but is currently masked by pigment.
Hardness (Janka)
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable; high resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores, making it suitable for water-sensitive applications.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $6.00 to $10.00 per board foot depending on grade and region.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Modern (5-15 years); based on the contemporary dark stain style and the relatively sharp, non-distressed edges of the furniture piece.
- Sustainability Status
- Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable with FSC certification common.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), and interior trim.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Excellent results with hand and machine tools. It responds well to steam bending. Due to high tannin content, it reacts with iron-based fasteners to create blue/black stains.
Finish Recommendations
Currently finished with a dark pigment stain and a protective semi-gloss polyurethane topcoat. Accepts stains well, though open pores may require a grain filler for a glass-smooth finish.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'whiskey' scent when being worked; high tannin content; ring-porous structure; tyloses make the wood nearly liquid-impermeable.
