White Oak (Quarter-sawn)
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn with prominent medullary rays (tiger stripe/flake figure). The grain is straight with a coarse, uneven texture.
Color Description
Medium golden-brown heartwood with amber undertones. Shows significant oxidation and darkening from age and a traditional shellac or varnish finish.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores that make the wood nearly water-tight.
Common Uses
Mission-style furniture, fine cabinetry, flooring, boat building, and barrel making (cooperage).
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$8.00 - $12.00 per board foot for premium quarter-sawn grade.
Wood Age Estimate
70-100 years. The deep amber patina, style of the brass hinges, and the specific quarter-sawn figure suggest an early 20th-century piece (c. 1910-1940).
Sustainability Status
Sustainable; Least Concern (IUCN), widely available as FSC certified.
Workability
Excellent with hand and machine tools, though very hard. Responds well to steam bending. Medullary rays can cause minor tearout during planing if tools are not sharp.
Notable Features
Distinctive medullary rays (flakes); high tannin content which allows for fuming with ammonia to darken the wood; distinctive vinegar-like scent when freshly cut.
Finish Recommendations
Traditional shellac, wipe-on oil finishes, or polyurethane. Often stained with dark 'Mission' or 'Golden Oak' dyes to emphasize the grain flake.
Identification Confidence
High. The large, unmistakable medullary ray 'flakes' are a diagnostic characteristic of quarter-sawn White Oak commonly found in period furniture.