Common Trade Name: White Oak, Stave Oak, fork-leaf white oak
Scientific Name: Quercus alba
Color Range: Light tan to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast. Sapwood has a paler complexion and is not easily distinguishable from heartwood.
Availability: Abundant, with a wide range of width and thickness
Janka Scale Hardness: 1,350 lbf (5,990 N)
Average Weight per BF: 47.0 lbs/Cu. Ft.
Common Uses: fine furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels, veneer, wood accent wall, custom molding, turning blanks
What Is White Oak?
White oak is a traditional lumber used by seafarers long ago to build merchant ships and is still widely used. White oak lumber is highly durable and easy to work with, achieving the kind of finish one desires for the wood. It is highly workable for both hand and machine tools and responds well to steam bending.
Like most oaks, white oak also emits a distinct smell when it is being worked on. The tan color of its lumber may look bland and cold, but it is the perfect blank canvas for woodworkers. White oak takes stains efficiently, absorbing them on its surface except for the ray flecks on quarter-sawn pieces.
White oak is popularly used as flooring for its durability and versatility. However, it is also moderately prone to sinking, which results in fairly average dimensional stability.
Where Is White Oak Sourced From?
Oak wood has a dozen species growing almost anywhere in the US. Quercus alba is a long-living hardwood native to eastern and central North America. They spread easily outside their normal range and often thrive in lowlands, although they also grow well in the Appalachians. Forest fires threaten their existence and are why white oak is fewer in the Midwest.
What to Look for When Buying White Oak
White oak is available as solid lumber, board, or veneer. White oak lumber may be available rough-sawn or flat-sawn in a good range of width and thickness. When buying white oak, choose seasoned lumber since the wood is prone to shrinkage. Check end grain for seasoning defects like the “honeycomb” or expanded cells that can weaken the wood.
White oak lumber is also harder and with a smoother grain. It also looks well with other commodity hardwood when used for tongue and groove flooring or wood paneling.
When it comes to excellent workability, northern-grown white oak is the best. For example, Appalachian timber has slower growth resulting in an easy-to-work texture. You can ask for this information from your lumber dealer.
Pros and Cons of White Oak
White oak lumber is versatile and highly pliable, although its hardness may sometimes cause trouble. It can dull machine blades and demands a slow feed rate for its extreme hardness with a Janka rating of 1,360 pounds-force.
Pros
- Durable and long-lasting
- Adaptable and versatile
- Neutral color
- Available in a longer length and wider plank
- Easy to work
- Finish well
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Darkens over time
- Can discolor nails and screws with its tannic acid
FAQs
Why is white oak more expensive than red oak?
In the US, red oak is more abundant than white. They are also available in wider and longer cuts. The prices in every locality differ so red oak can become costlier in its natural range than white.
Can white oak furniture stay outside?
White oak is medium rot-resistant but highly weather-resistant. They are often used in marine settings and may also be used outdoors if with a good finish.
Where to Buy White Oak
White oak is present in many lumber stores, with all the species lumped together. It means that it can be possible for you not to get pure Quercus alba. But it does not also mean a compromise in the quality as all white oaks are relatively similar.
To buy this all-American hardwood, check us out at Alderfer Lumber Company Inc. We have a line of pure wood supplies to suit your woodworking projects. We offer white oak lumber of varying lengths and widths and different grades.
Alderfer is committed to providing only the best lumber and board supplies for the best price. Call us today to inquire about domestic and specialty wood and cuts. We have a sufficient supply that we can have delivered to your location.
