Comments on: Oak Lumber – White or Red?

By: Methuselah

Methuselah — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:16:35 +0000

I’ve always determined the difference by ray length, how I was taught. As I got older, the White Oak got heavier than the Red. Seems like I can feel it in my bones. Imagination I guess.

By: Lew

Lew — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:35:50 +0000

An old timer showed me a trick to tell the difference. He had a cigar and took a puff. Picked up a short piece of oak and blew into the end grain. Smoke came out of the other end. Red oak, he said. He did the same with white oak- no smoke. He told me that the pores in white oak were blocked but not in red oak. A good reason white they use white oak- not red oak- for boats.

By: bob817

bob817 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:02:24 +0000

Living where both oaks are avail. on my property I found this to be very informative.
thankyou,
Bob