White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight to cathedral grain with coarse, uneven texture. Visible open pores characteristic of ring-porous woods and tyloses in the pores suggest White Oak over Red Oak.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is light tan or nearly white. It darkens over time to a deeper golden brown.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay. Heartwood is highly resistant to liquid penetration due to tyloses blocking vessels.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, boatbuilding, cabinetry, barrel making (cooperage), and tool handles.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot depending on grade and cut.
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears to be a used furniture or tool part, likely 20-50 years old based on the oxidation, minor surface wear, and patina development.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available with FSC certification.
Workability
Commonly produces good results with hand and machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well, though large pores may require grain filler for a glass-smooth finish.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when worked. High tannin content can react with iron/steel fasteners to cause blue-black staining. Tyloses make it waterproof (unlike Red Oak).
Finish Recommendations
Polyurethane or lacquer for durability in high-use items. Penetrating oils (tung or linseed) enhance the grain. Ammonia fuming is a traditional technique used on White Oak to darken it natively.
Identification Confidence
High; the prominent cathedral grain, coarse ring-porous texture, and characteristic light-brown olivaceous color are definitive of White Oak.