White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1,360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores; often used for liquid-tight containers.
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Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn with prominent medullary rays (fleck figure), straight grain, and coarse texture
Color & Appearance
Light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast; sapwood is nearly white to light brown. Finishes to a warm honey-gold; high luster on flecked surfaces.
Hardness (Janka)
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores; often used for liquid-tight containers.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $6.00 - $12.00 per board foot (premium for quarter-sawn fleck figure)
- Wood Age Estimate
- Freshly milled/Recent; minimal oxidation or UV graying, rough-sawn surface suggests primary processing phase.
- Sustainability Status
- Sustainable; widely available, not CITES listed, and classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), trim, and tool handles.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Good results with machine and hand tools; high shrinkage makes seasoning important; reacts with iron (staining) when wet.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based finishes enhance the ray fleck; polyurethane for durability; avoid water-based finishes if iron contamination is present.
Notable Features
Distinctive medullary rays visible on radial surfaces; faint, characteristic oak scent; high tannin content; ring-porous structure.
