American White Oak - Quercus spp

American White Oak is a light to medium hardwood with consistent colouring and very attractive figure, when cut on the full quarter. A highly decorative wood suitable for your niche markets. An attractive and appealing timber for architects, furniture designers and furniture manufacturers.

• The timber resembles European oak, being a mixture of species. However, it is more variable in color, sometimes with a pinkish tint. The sapwood of American White Oak is light colored and the heartwood is light to dark brown.
• The characteristic silver grain figure due to the broad rays shown to advantage on quarter sawn material. The grain is mostly straight with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays than red oak and therefore has more figure.
• The timber seasons slowly with a tenancy to check and split. In common with other species of Oak, White Oak corrodes metals, particularly Iron, Steel and Lead. Blue-black discoloration from the tannic acid in the timber is liable to develop when in contact conditions.
• American White Oak is used for a wide range of constructional work including shipping and boat building, flooring, architectural joinery, exterior joinery, railways sleepers and timber bridges due to its strength and resistance to decay.  It is traditional for high grade furniture, interior woodwork and paneling. Because of its impermeability, the timber is suitable for vats and casks holding liquids such as wine and spirits.