White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Generally straight grain with a coarse, uneven texture. End grain shows visible large rings and prominent tyloses in heartwood pores. Notable for large medullary rays when quarter-sawn.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is light tan to nearly white. Darkens slightly over time with a golden-yellow hue.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in pores; frequently used in boat building and barrels.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, wine/whiskey barrels (cooperage), trim, and tool handles.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $12.00 per board foot depending on cut and grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly cut (green wood); the logs show recent chainsaw marks and wetness in the heartwood transition.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; widely available and sustainable.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. Has high shrinkage, so seasoning is critical. Reacts with iron (turning blue/black) when wet due to high tannin content.
Notable Features
Characteristic 'oak' scent when worked. High tannin content makes it rot-resistant but corrosive to steel fasteners. Liquid-tight due to tyloses.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well. Polyurethane or oil-based varnishes are popular for durability; reactive 'fumed' finishes can be used to darken it naturally.
Identification Confidence
High; identified by the light tan heartwood color, distinct thick bark with vertical ridges/plates, and clear ring-porous structure visible on the cross-section.