Glacial Species & Grades

White Oak

Other Common Names: Stave Oak, Ridge White Oak, Forked-Leaf White Oak and Fork-Leaf Oak. White Oak is grown in both the Glacial and Appalachian regions. Strong, economical and rot-resistant, White Oak is very valuable to makers as an important source of wood for furniture, veneer, paneling, and flooring. The sapwood of White Oak is white to very light brown, while the heartwood is light to dark brown. It has more figure than Red Oak, with a distinctive open grain and coarse texture. Fast-grown oak, with wide rings, is stronger and heavier than slow-grown oak. White Oak is also used to make railroad ties, fence posts, mine timbers, ships, and caskets and whiskey barrels.

Properties

  • Machining5
  • Nailing4
  • Screwing4
  • Gluing2
  • Finishing5

Properties of White Oak

When properly dried treated, oak wood glues well, machines very well and accepts a variety of finishes.

How does it compare

Lumber
(12 % moisture content)
Specific Gravity
(Density)
Dimensional
R
(%)
Movement
T
(%)
Hardness
(lbs)
Compression
Parallel
(ps)
Bending
Strength
(ps)
Bending
Stiffness
(kps)
Grain
Alder, Red (Western).414.47.35905,8209,8001,380Fine
Ash.604.97.81,3207,41015,4001,770Fine
Basswood.376.69.34104,7308,7001,460Fine
Beech.645.511.91,3007,30014,9001,720Fine/Medium
Birch, Yellow.627.39.51,2608,17016,6002,010Fine
Cherry, Black.503.77.19507,11012,3001,490Mod/Coarse
Hickory.664.98.91,8207,85013,7001,730Mod/Coarse
Maple, Hard.634.89.91,4507,83015,8001,830Fine
Maple, PC .483.77.18505,95010,7001,450Fine
Maple, Soft.473.07.27005,2208,9001,140Fine
Oak, Red.634.08.61,2906,76014,3001,820Coarse
Oak, White.684.48.81,3607,44015,2001,780Mod/Coarse
Poplar, Yellow.424.68.24505,2909,2001,500Fine
Walnut, Black.555.57.81,0107,58014,6001,680Medium