White Oak

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Common Name(s): White Oak

Scientific Name: Quercus alba

Distribution: Eastern United States

Tree Size: 65-85 ft (20-25 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 50 lbs/ft³ (805 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .60

Hardness: 1,360 lb_f (6,000 N)

Bending Strength: 15,200 lb_f/in² (104,800 kPa)

Elasticity: 1,780,000 lb_f/in² (12,300 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 5.6%, Tangential: 10.5%, Volumetric: 16.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.9

Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. Red Oak tends to be slightly redder, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

Grain/Pore: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain.

Durability: Good rot resistance: frequently used in boat-building applications.

Workability: Easy to glue, and takes stain and finishes very well.

Smell: Has a tell-tale smell that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Slightly more expensive than Red Oak, White Oak is in good/sustainable supply and is moderately priced. Thicker 8/4 planks, or quartersawn boards are slightly more expensive per board foot.

Comments: White Oak, along with its brother Red Oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species. Hard, durable, and moderately priced, White Oak presents an exceptional value to woodworkers—which explains why it is so widely used in cabinet and furniture making.

Related Species:

Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)

Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)

English Oak (Quercus robur)

Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata)

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)

Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)

Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)

Water Oak (Quercus nigra)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

Scans/Pictures: You can see from the picture below that the color of White Oak looks almost identical, though slightly darker, with sanding sealer applied. However, the grain and pores become much more pronounced if a pigment stain is used.