White Oak (likely)
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Typically straight and coarse-textured; flat-sawn pieces show a distinct cathedral pattern while quarter-sawn displays prominent ray flecks or medullary rays.
Color Description
Heartwood is light to medium brown with an olive cast; sapwood is almost white to light brown and is not always sharply demarcated from heartwood.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay, frequently used for boat building and tight cooperage.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, barrels (cooperage), trim, and tool handles.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 to $10.00 per board foot depending on grade and cut.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly felled log likely from a tree 40-70 years old based on diameter and bark thickness.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and non-CITES listed; FSC certification is common.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools; high shrinkage rate makes it susceptible to movement; reacts with iron to cause staining; glues and finishes well.
Notable Features
Distinctive mildly sweet scent when worked; high tannin content; tyloses in pores make it waterproof (unlike Red Oak).
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to oil-based stains and film finishes; can be fumed with ammonia to darken; stains can be blotchy on flat-sawn faces.
Identification Confidence
Medium-High; identifying based on bark morphology (light-colored, scaly, and blocky) and visible inner wood fibers consistent with Quercus species.