Handling & safety. Oak dust is a recognised respiratory sensitiser and is associated with nasal cancer in long-term exposed workers. Extract or ventilate when machining, wear a dust mask, and keep on top of sweeping rather than letting it accumulate.
Suitable uses
Furniture, shelving, stair parts, interior joinery, feature panelling.
Browse projectsProperties
| Latin name | Quercus alba |
|---|---|
| Species type | Hardwood |
| Origin | North America — widely imported and a UK trade staple. |
| Density | 755 kg/m³ |
| Janka hardness | 5,990 N |
| Modulus of rupture | 102.3 MPa |
| Elastic modulus | 12.15 GPa |
| Crushing strength | 50.8 MPa |
| Specific gravity | 0.75 |
| Porosity | Ring-porous |
| Movement class | High |
| Tangential shrinkage | 10.5% |
| Radial shrinkage | 5.6% |
| Volumetric shrinkage | 16.3% |
| T/R ratio | 1.9 |
| Durability (EN 350) | Class 2 |
| Relative cost | Premium |
Density and mechanical properties are typical values at around 12% moisture content. Shrinkage figures represent total dimensional change from fibre saturation to oven dry. Individual boards vary.
American White Oak is a strong, hard-wearing hardwood from North America. Its heartwood ranges from light tan to medium brown, usually with a straight, clearly defined grain and a medium to coarse texture. Quarter-sawn boards can display prominent medullary rays, producing the distinctive flecked figure associated with oak.
Plain-sawn boards tend to show a stronger cathedral-shaped grain, while quarter-sawn material has a straighter appearance with more visible ray figure. Colour and character naturally vary between boards, so timber for panels, doors or matching furniture components should be selected together where a consistent appearance matters.
Working the timber
Machines and finishes well for a ring-porous oak, taking both stains and fuming evenly. It bends well after steaming, which is why it has always been the cooperage and boatbuilding timber. Planing interlocked or quartered stock wants a reduced blade angle to avoid tearout.
Finishing & gluing
Open pores mean grain filler is needed for a glass-smooth finish; left open, it suits oil and wax finishes where the texture is part of the look. Tannins react with iron — use stainless or coated fixings near any moisture.
Glues reliably with standard PVA and polyurethane adhesives. Its high tannin content does not stop the bond but will blacken unsightly steel clamps against bare wood.