White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable (excellent decay resistance and good resistance to insect attack)
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Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn and rift-sawn straight grain, featuring distinct and prominent medullary rays (ray fleck figure)
Color & Appearance
Light to medium brown heartwood with occasional greyish or olive tones, narrow paler sapwood, moderate natural luster, darkens slightly to a rich amber patina with age and light exposure
Hardness (Janka)
1360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable (excellent decay resistance and good resistance to insect attack)
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $4.00 - $8.00 per board foot (higher for quartersawn figure)
- Wood Age Estimate
- Kiln-dried modern stock, recently surfaced, approximately 1-5 years old
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (abundant, widely available, not listed on CITES appendices or IUCN Red List)
Common Uses
Fine furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, exterior construction, barrel making (cooperage), and architectural millwork
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though it can blunt cutting edges due to high density. Responds well to steam bending, glues, stains, and screws well, but pre-drilling is recommended.
Finish Recommendations
Accepts a wide variety of finishes including oil, polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, and varnishes. Water-based finishes minimize ambering, while oil-based finishes enhance the natural chatoyancy and grain depth.
Notable Features
Closed cellular structure due to tyloses in the heartwood (making it water-resistant), high tannin content which reacts strongly with iron (causing black stains), and prominent ray fleck patterns when quarter-sawn.
