Comments on: White Oak

By: Gordon Mcbrearty

Gordon Mcbrearty — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:13:02 +0000

just to say you have done fantastic work and the information thats laid is really good thank you for work you have done

By: Fredy

Fredy — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:04:18 +0000

hello. I am from Central America, precisely in Guatemala we have very large and hard oaks in the cloud forest mountains, I attach these two images of white and red oak. I would like to send you a sample so I can analyze these two species.

By: gattu marrudu

gattu marrudu — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 21:54:05 +0000

I am treating white oak with tung oil (Old Masters, which is thick and seems to be without additives). Most instructions advise to use 3-5 coats, but with white oak, the first coat looks still wet on the surface after a couple of hours.
I also tried mixing with turpentine which seems to absorb a little more, and I spread it out with a dry brush after half hour where it dried more, but it seems like 2 coats is the most it can take, and there is quite a bit left to wipe off after the 2nd one.
Anybody has the same experience? Is white oak dense enough that 1-2 oil coats should be enough to protect it?

By: gattu marrudu

gattu marrudu — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 21:48:45 +0000

In reply to Eric. Thanks. After planing a few pieces I realized that the lighter one mus be sapwood, because the other pieces are darker and closer to the other batch.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 10:33:17 +0000

In reply to gattu marrudu. There's a lot of variation in oak, especially color. Some species can loose a bit of their natural color when kiln dried (such as black walnut). The upside is that they are better protected/sterilized against pests.

By: gattu marrudu

gattu marrudu — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:01:37 +0000

I bought white oak from two different sawmills, one in Philadelphia (probably sourced locally) and one 50 miles far in rural Pennsylvania. The former was air dried and stickered for at least 4 years, the latter kiln dried – so I was told.

The two look quite different. They both look like oak to me, but the hue and smell are quite distinct. The one lighter in color is the kiln-dried one. Obviously one is quarter sawn and the other flat sawn, and I can’t see the characteristic white oak flecks in the flat sawn one. Also, the lighter one smelled less “oaky” when I plained it. Maybe it’s not thoroughly dried? Or is it lighter because it’s kiln dried, and it will darken (and warp too??) with time? Thanks.

By: John M. Vigilante

John M. Vigilante — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:43:30 +0000

In reply to Eric. Thank you.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:06:18 +0000

In reply to John Vigilante. It looks like spalting to me, so basically decay fungi.

By: John Vigilante

John Vigilante — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 17:30:09 +0000

Can anyone say what the cream-colored marbling effect is called in the edge of this oak board? It’s about 3/8” deep into the wood. Oxidation? Fungus?

By: Mike Mike

Mike Mike — Sat, 07 May 2022 02:36:29 +0000

In reply to Idrinka Dabourbon. But... who would use anything but white oak? Red oak, e.g., barrels would soak through in months.

By: paul hartridge

paul hartridge — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 08:42:08 +0000

In reply to Deborah C Williamson. it looks a bit like english Oak to me

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:41:29 +0000

In reply to Deborah C Williamson. I am not sure what species that is, but from the side view of the board it does not look like white oak, which generally has noticeable ray flecks. It kind of looks like ash to me.

By: Idrinka Dabourbon

Idrinka Dabourbon — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 04:01:15 +0000

In reply to Ja. I must respectfully correct this. White Oak is the most commonly used for bourbon barrels, but the rules state bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. The type of oak is irrelevant. Also, be careful making your own spirits; if you don't know what you're doing, you can end up blind or dead. Cheers. ?

By: Deborah C Williamson

Deborah C Williamson — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 14:20:02 +0000

I’m trying to identify this wood. I’ve come into 7 ten foot boards that are 2” thick of this reclaimed wood. It is super dense and hard and wicks water easily, which sounds more like red oak with the porosity. That said, I think it looks more like white oak. Any suggestions? Here is edge grain, face grain, end grain, and an overall shot.

By: Phil Smith

Phil Smith — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 02:59:27 +0000

I am thinking about buying some unfinished oak planks from a local wholesaler. He gets them from pipe line companies that use them to haul pipe on railcars then give them to him after one use.

I suspect it is Live Oak since that is the most abundant oak in this area. I build furniture and cabinets in my home shop. I have a jointer to finish the edges.

Of course I will select the boards that are straight but Is there anything else I should consider or be cautious about?

By: Dillon Fitzgerald

Dillon Fitzgerald — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 19:55:31 +0000

In reply to Scooter. You will need a knowledgeable structural engineer to tell you the strength of your beam. The member can be grade in-situ to provide a better representation of strength. It also depends how the beam is installed and its connections. I can help you with that or you can find another professional to help you out.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:21:17 +0000

In reply to Scooter. Lumber span tables are commonly available on the internet with a simple Google search. The span tables will give you all of the essential load data you need.

By: Ja

Ja — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 01:02:05 +0000

In reply to Rafael. It's the ONLY wood for bourbon, by definition.

By: Rafael

Rafael — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 06:53:15 +0000

Hi, is this queréis alba the best wood for barrels for aging rum or bourbon??
It’s there a place where I can bay already cut this wood for barrels.
Thanks.

By: Scooter

Scooter — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 04:59:32 +0000

Hi there, we recently bought a 1920 farmhouse in MD. The house itself needs to be completely renovated and updated. This is going to require multiple structural changes. There have been various pieces of the structural elements that have been confirmed to be white oak. Can someone tell me how strong a 5.5”x 5.5” beam would be? What find if load can white oak carry?