White Oak (or similar North American Oak)
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern and Central North America
- Hardness
- 1,360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Durable; excellent natural resistance to rot and moisture due to tyloses in heartwood pores, though exterior sapwood is susceptible to insects.
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Coarse, uneven texture with prominent open pores, wild grain flow around knots, and faint ray fleck typical of rift/quarter-sawn radial surfaces.
Color & Appearance
Pale tan to golden light brown yellow heartwood with greyish weathered tones and dark brown/black exterior bark or fire-charred sapwood margins.
Hardness (Janka)
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Durable; excellent natural resistance to rot and moisture due to tyloses in heartwood pores, though exterior sapwood is susceptible to insects.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $6.00 - $12.00 per board foot (higher for unique turning blanks or crotch/burl figures)
- Wood Age Estimate
- Harvested tree section aged several decades; raw log/chunk showing recent raw cut face with natural weather-aged exterior bark.
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and sustainably harvested across North America.
Common Uses
Woodturning, sculptural carving, live-edge furniture, rustic decor, firewood, and specialty woodworking.
Geographic Origin
Eastern and Central North America
Workability
Fairly difficult to hand-plane due to high density and irregular grain near branch attachments; turns well on a lathe with sharp carbide tools.
Finish Recommendations
Penetrating Danish oil or boiled linseed oil to highlight character, followed by paste wax or poly finish for protection.
Notable Features
High tannin content, distinct oak smell when freshly cut, large open pores, and strong structural density.
