White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn and Rift-sawn with prominent medullary rays (fleck figure), straight grain, and a coarse, uneven texture.
Color Description
Heartwood is light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is light cream to light brown. Finishes to a warm golden tone and darkens slightly with age.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores. Frequently used for water-tight applications.
Common Uses
Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 to $10.00 per board foot for quarter-sawn select grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern lumber, likely kiln-dried and surfaced recently based on the lack of oxidation and clean tool marks.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Widely available and FSC certified options are common.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well, though large pores may require filling for a smooth surface.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'oaky' scent when being worked. Contains high tannin content which can react with iron fasteners to cause blue/black staining.
Finish Recommendations
Penetrating oils or wiping varnishes enhance the ray fleck figure. Shellac and polyurethane also work well. Reacts beautifully to fuming with ammonia.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of quartersawn ray flecks, the olive-brown color, and specific ring-porous grain structure is diagnostic of White Oak.