COLOR:
Heartwood is light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream.

GRAIN:
Open, with longer rays than red oak. Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plain sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; rift sawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quarter sawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger rays or butterflies.

VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES:
Considerable variation among boards in color and grain texture, but variations not as pronounced as in red oak.

ORIGIN:
North America.

GRADE:
Clear, Select, CW1, CW2.

HARDNESS (JANKA):
1360.

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY:
Average.

NAILING:
No known problems.

SANDING:
Sands satisfactorily if the correct sanding sequence is followed. Suggested Sequence First Cut: 50 or 60 at a 7-15 degree angle with the grain Second Cut: 60 or 80 straight with the grain Third Cut: 80 or 100 Hard Plate: 100 Screen: 80 or 100.

FINISHING:
During the finishing process, tannins at the surface can react with some liquids to turn the wood green or brown. This effect tends to be more pronounced with products that have a high water content, such as wood bleach and water-based finishes. Stains very well and accepts stain evenly.