White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Prominent quarter-sawn figure with large, conspicuous medullary rays (ray fleck); grain is straight with a coarse, uneven texture and ring-porous structure.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is light beige to nearly white. The wood tends to darken slightly with age and UV exposure, becoming more amber.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to the presence of tyloses in the pores, making it suitable for water-contact applications.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, cooperage (wine and whiskey barrels), interior trim, and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot depending on figure and width.
Wood Age Estimate
Fresh-cut or recently milled log based on the light color of the sawdust and lack of significant oxidation or surface grey-out.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; widely available with FSC certification.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. It has a moderately high shrinkage rate, so dimensional stability is a consideration. It reacts with iron (turning blue/black) if wet.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when worked; contains tyloses which plug the vessels making it liquid-tight; high tannin content can cause corrosion in unprotected fasteners.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well, though large pores may require a grain filler for a glass-smooth surface. Penetrating oils accentuate the medullary rays beautifully.
Identification Confidence
High; the large, visible medullary rays seen in this radial/tangential cut are a diagnostic characteristic of the Quercus genus, and the olive-tan hue is indicative of the White Oak group.