Botanical Name Quercus alba Other Names Northern white oak, Southern white oak Origin North America Sapwood Colour Whitish to light brown Heartwood Colour Pale yellow brown to pale or dark brown Grain Open grain, longer rays then red oak, occasional swirls and burls, tighter grain pattern, quarter sawn has distinct flake pattern (tiger rays or butterflies) Texture Medium to coarse Common Uses Furniture, flooring, architectural interiors, exterior joinery, mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, paneling, construction, railway sleepers, timber bridges, barrel staves, coffins, caskets, veneer Density kg/m3 753 Specific gravity - 0.67 Hardness N 6170 Bending Strength N/mm2 106.9 Stiffness N/mm2 12500 Radial shrinkage % 5 Tangential shrinkage % 10 Working Properties Stability xxxx Bending xxxx Machining xxx Screwing xxxx Gluing xxx Painting xxx Sanding xxx Staining xx xxxx = excellent xxx = good xx = fair x = not good