WHITE OAK

APPEARANCE
COLOR: Heartwood is light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream.
GRAIN: Open, with longer rays than red oak. Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plan sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; rift sawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quarter sawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger rays or butterflies.
VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES & GRADES: Considerable variations among boards in color and grain texture, but variations not as pronounced as in red oak.

PROPERTIES
HARDNESS/JANKA: 1360; 5% harder than Northern Red Oak.
DURABILITY: More durable than red oak. Tannic acid in the wood protects it from fungi and insects.
SAWING/MACHINING: Excellent machining qualities.
SANDING: Sands satisfactorily.
NAILING: Good resistance to splitting; excellent holding ability.
FINISHING: Absorbs finishes more evenly than red oak. Does not bleach well.