White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Ring-porous structure with straight grain and prominent medullary rays. Visible ray fleck on quartersawn surfaces and large, open earlywood pores.
Color Description
Heartwood is light to medium brown, often with an olive cast. Sapwood is light cream to white. Color tends to darken slightly over time to a more golden brown.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores which make the wood nearly waterproof.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), trim, 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 width.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly cut/split firewood; growth rings suggest a tree age of approximately 25-30 years for this specific section.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and sustainable.
Workability
Excellent results with machine and hand tools. Pores can cause some tearout; reacts with iron (rust) to create black stains due to high tannin content.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'tannic' scent when worked; contains tyloses which block the vascular tubes, making it suitable for liquid-tight containers.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well. Transparent film finishes like polyurethane highlight the grain, while reactive stains (fuming) can create deep colors.
Identification Confidence
High; the end grain shows classic ring-porous anatomy with thick, long medullary rays characteristic of the Quercus genus, specifically the white oak group.