White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Predominantly straight, coarse grain with visible medullary rays. The image shows a flat-sawn or cathedral grain on the top surface with prominent large pores and dark filler in the grain lines.
Color Description
Heartwood is light to medium brown, often with an olive cast. Sapwood is near-white to light brown. The piece shows significant darkening and ambering due to aged varnish/stain; it exhibits a warm golden-brown patina from age.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the heartwood pores which make it liquid-tight.
Common Uses
Furniture (especially Mission or Arts & Crafts style), flooring, cabinetry, boat building, barrels (cooperage), and interior trim.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot (standard grade)
Wood Age Estimate
30-50 years. The wear patterns, finish degradation (crackling/thinning), and the style of the table construction suggest a mid-to-late 20th-century piece.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable with FSC certification common.
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It has moderately high shrinkage, so stability is key. It glues, stains, and finishes well, though it can react with iron-based fasteners to create blue/black stains.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'oak' scent when worked. High tannin content. It is known for its strength and the presence of wide medullary rays which are highly visible when quarter-sawn.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based stains to highlight the grain, followed by polyurethane or lacquer for durability. Filling the grain/pores with a paste filler is common for a smooth tabletop finish.
Identification Confidence
High. The large, open-pored grain structure combined with the visible rays on the edge grain and the characteristic color/texture are classic indicators of Quercus species, specifically White Oak given the heartwood hue.