White Oak |
aka: eastern white oak, stave oak, ridge white oak, cucharillo, encino, and roble. Grows in United States and Canada. Wood marketed as white oak may contain other white oak species but Quercus alba is primary species. 

General Description

The sapwood is light-colored and the heartwood is light-to-dark brown. White oak is mostly straight-grained with a medium-to-coarse texture. Having longer rays than red oak, white oak has more figure.

Working Properties
It machines well, nails and screws well, although pre-boring is advised. Due to its reaction with iron, galvanized nails are recommended. Its adhesive properties are variable. The wood dries slowly, but stains to a good finish.

Physical Properties
White oak is a hard and heavy wood with a medium-bending and crushing strength, low in stiffness, but very good in steam-bending. It has great wear-resistance.

Availability
Readily avail
able, but not as abundant as red oak.

Main Uses
Furniture, flooring, architectural millwork, moulding, doors, kitchen cabinets, paneling, barrel staves (tight cooperage), and caskets.