White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight-grained with a coarse, uneven texture. The sample shows a rift-sawn to quarter-sawn orientation, evidenced by the vertical grain lines and presence of small medullary rays.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is near-white to light brown and not always sharply demarcated from heartwood. It tends to develop an amber patina with age.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores, making it suitable for water-tight applications.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), interior trim, and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot depending on grade and cut (Rift/Quartered fetches a premium).
Wood Age Estimate
Recently milled or surfaced (less than 1 year), based on the fresh color and lack of deep oxidation or surface wear.
Sustainability Status
Sustainable; not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Widely available as FSC certified.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. It has a moderately high shrinkage rate, so dimensional stability can be an issue. Reacts with iron (turning blue/black) if wet.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic odor when worked. Contains tyloses which plug the vessels, making the wood liquid-tight. High tannin content can cause corrosion in unprotected steel fasteners.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well. Because of its large open pores, a grain filler may be used if a glass-smooth surface is desired. Polyurethane or oil finishes are most common.
Identification Confidence
High; the visible open pores, typical 'wheat' color, and the specific medullary ray flecking visible on the edge are classic diagnostic features of the white oak group.