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Common Name(s): Swamp White Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus bicolor Distribution: Eastern and Midwestern United States Tree Size: 50-80 ft (15-24 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 48 lbs/ft3 (765 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .64, .77 Janka Hardness: 1,600 lbf (7,140 N) Modulus of Rupture: 17,400 lbf/in2 (120.0 MPa) Elastic Modulus: 2,029,000 lbf/in2 (13.99 GPa) Crushing Strength: 8,400 lbf/in2 (57.9 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 10.6%, Volumetric: 17.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.9 |
Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. Conversely, Red Oak tends to be slightly redder, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of Oak.
Grain/Texture: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain.
Rot Resistance: Swamp White Oak has been rated as having very good resistance to decay.
Workability: Easy to glue, and takes stain and finishes very well.
Odor: Has a tell-tale smell that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Slightly more expensive than Red Oak, White Oak is in good/sustainable supply and is moderately priced. Thicker 8/4 planks, or quartersawn boards are slightly more expensive per board foot.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels, and veneer.
Comments: Swamp White Oak falls into the white oak group, and shares many of the same traits as White Oak (Quercus alba). White Oak, along with its brother Red Oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species. Hard, durable, and moderately priced, White Oak presents an exceptional value to woodworkers—which explains why it is so widely used in cabinet and furniture making.
- Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
- Bog Oak
- Brown Oak
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
- California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)
- Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)
- Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)
- English Oak (Quercus robur)
- Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)
- Japanese Oak (Quercus mongolica)
- Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)
- Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
- Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)
- Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata)
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
- Post Oak (Quercus stellata)
- Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
- Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)
- Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
- Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)
- Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)
- Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)
- Water Oak (Quercus nigra)
- White Oak (Quercus alba)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
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How can a species so similar to white oak be much stronger than it at nearly the same density?
The tubules in red oak are continuous, whereas the white oak’s are interrupted. The interruption causes a stronger pattern and provides better rot resistance.
I think he’s asking how is a Swamp White Oak more strong than a White Oak. He’s not comparing it to a red oak.