The important difference between RED and WHITE Oak

[@StumpyNubs]

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[@EastAsiaCreativeMedia]

one thing you failed to mention is how the pores of red oak absorbs wood finish differently . Please do an episode on that

[@AdamKirbyMusic]

You have been coming out with some of the top woodworking content for a while now. Useful information that's excellently presented.

[@-ZIO]

I agree. The content is really good stuff. Top notch lately

[@jswallingford]

Thanks for this! Literally about to start a project using oak. Now I can go to the lumber yard equipped with more knowledge. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@waynehanshue712]

Wow. Great video. You can also tell the difference by the shape of leaves. Pointed Red oak. Rounded white. Thanks for all your information. Have got lots of good tips from you.

[@ToolswithSoAlz]

This is the type of information that makes you the best woodworking channel on KZbin.

[@samuelthedude]

WOW. I took a screen shot of your red oak and white oak comparison to demonstrate to my interior design clients. Great shot!

[@ericgiesberg4179]

Ah, James I love you. I made an offhand comment about red vs white oak on your vids a few weeks ago. You came back with a great video. There are some other ways to check but as you point out they're practically irrelevant for most usage. I think ray lengths are usually my backup

[@mykidsdad9]

Thank you. Never knew exactly how to make the distinction.

[@MrMatt-qs2ck]

Thanks for the video! I've been woodworking for years and never found a video as helpful as this concerning red and white oak.

[@julesoyler4306]

Wow! I learn so much every video! Thanks!

[@SundaiLove]

Loved this video!

[@FixingFurniture]

Great video James. A viewer of mine suggested your video after watching me select the wood to replace some broken parts on a glider rocker. I haven't used white oak in my workshop as it's not commonly used where I live (Greater Toronto Area). Thanks for educating me on the difference between red and white oak. Scott 🇨🇦

[@josephgdraper]

Thanks for the education on white and red oak. In the 70's my dad and I built a pole barn with cedar posts and rough sawn (mostly green) white oak for everything else except the galvanized metal roof and garage door. I pounded lots of 16d, 8d and ring shanked roofing nails. We used a Black & Decker circular saw and a small McCulloch chainsaw for all of it. One inch thick seasoned white oak siding is very hard to drive a nail into, compared to fresh sawn. The splinters are mean. The board and batten white oak siding weathered to a gray color and is extremely durable. After I moved away, my folks stained the outside a classic weathered red barn color. It's still in good shape after more than 45 years.

[@papaacorn9479]

Just wanted to thank you for making these videos. I’ve learned so much from you. Thanks!

[@whocares6166]

Mind blown... I never knew there was that much difference . Informative and brilliant as usual 👊

[@dennisyurcik5961]

Excellent info. Thanks for making this distinction.

[@amistadranch1598]

As a Brit working in the US I think its great that you can get certain oaks at reasonable prices. as mentioned before English oak costs an arm and a leg. Oh and by the way, i have seen thousands of English Oak tree's over the years but never have I seen one like the one in your video, wish I had, she looks like fun !!

[@garyknight8616]

Very informative, thank you. Greetings from the UK where oak has a very special place in our history.

[@christophercastor6666]

Love the bubble blowing trick! Maybe I should pick through the stack and teach my nephews a new skill this summer!

[@stevehopkins5907]

This reminds me that I’d like to see a video about wood grain: how to read it, what’s the best grain direction for different kinds of projects/applications, the different milling options (quarter-sawn, for example), etc. If you’ve already made one, please provide a link.

[@thewabisabicollective7170]

Mr Hopkins, I don't have a direct link for you, but there's LOTS of good videos about exactly what you're asking in many luthier( guitar and other string instrument making/repairing) videos.

[@MegaWeagle]

I love both red and white oak. I do tend to work more with red though because white seems to go up everytime I visit the lumber store.

[@blackvenges]

Thank you! I always learn valuable information from your videos.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing this information James. 🙏🏻🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👋👋

[@nrage1]

Really appreciated this video. Great explanation.

[@makenchips]

Excellent explanation on oak! Better than a boring book with big word I cant ponounce or remember! Good going!

[@MCsCreations]

Great tips, dude! Thanks a lot! 😊 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@YouTuber-mc2el]

Did not know the difference in regards to the pour structure. I just finished cutting down two dead oak trees. One showed very light (white) inside the outer wood and the other showed very red in the same location. Both had light outer wood just inside the bark. Thought I had a red oak and a white oak. I will most definitely check the pour structure to see what I have. Thanks

[@starhawke380]

Thanks, this was quite informational and well produced. I was unaware of the pore difference.

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

Awesome information. That's why I love watching your videos. BTW, my daughter got me some ISOTunes for Christmas, before last. I love 'em.

[@CaliberFiftyVideos]

This reminds me of the time I found out that Balsa wood is actually a hardwood, even though it is about a 3rd the density of pine. I love the look of projects done with long oak boards, regardless of the natural tint.

[@thewabisabicollective7170]

One of my favorite woods to use is quarter sawn white oak. The medullary rays( ray flecking) is just beautiful!

[@ryanevans8182]

What a great video! Thanks.

[@geddysciple]

Great info! Though I still don't know which to pair with chicken and which to pair with red meat.

[@robandsharonseddon-smith5216]

Yet again a really helpful video. Thank you.

[@kaywarren6788]

Thank you! I'm not generally a fan of oak, I'm not into open pores messing up the look I want. May I suggest doing a series of these short bids about the pros and cons of different species? I'd love that!

[@JkCanvas]

Great information. Learned a a lot. I have some oak that was purchased at an estate sale and not sure which it is. Now I can go look at the grain and find out. Thank you James.

[@GiorgiyShepov]

Love your work, thank you for what you are doing.

[@JeffGloverArts]

Thank you! There are very few options here (SoCal) without costing a kidney. Knowing the differences is very valuable to a hobby woodworker like me.

[@JeffGloverArts]

@@mikeygee4564 , unless I visit a premier lumber supplier, the walnut & oak here are very poor quality and expensive.

[@gordroberts53]

Very helpful James!

[@rtkville]

Good one! Thank you!

[@wraith2440]

This is very useful. Thanks very much.

[@andrewsaunders8995]

Because of the pores old timers said that barrels made of white oak hold whiskey and barrels made of red oak hold nails.

[@jimcooney9019]

thanks for sharing the video

[@newmonengineering]

I use strips of white oak where I need clean sharp hard edges kind of like your example. Great explanation.

[@talltimberswoodshop7552]

Great tutorial! Thanks, James.

[@ixmakexfilms]

Working on a project right now with what i was told was white oak, but the pores are pretty open. it's creating all sorts of issues with my finish as the stain globs up in the pores, the oil finish stays wet in the pores. Tried sanding sealer and grain filler still an issue. I might just stay away from this wood until i get a very firm handle on finishing

[@MMWoodworking]

Oak absolutely gives the gnarliest splinters. I started taping my left hand (A tip from one of your videos!) fingers when ripping a decent amount of oak. It feels like every time I get lazy I end up with either a splinter or the worlds largest paper cut.

[@DarrensWorkshop]

Wow James. I'm impressed with the number videos you are producing. Well done.

[@daleleibfried8648]

Great explanation 👌

[@Pauken11]

As far as outdoor projects, you should mention that oak has tannins in it, and will turn black when exposed to water, especially bottoms of legs on tables and chairs.

[@pitsnipe5559]

Good lesson, thanks. How about one on hard vs soft maple?

[@josecanales2978]

I love this channel.

[@josecanales2978]

What’s up with English oak picture though?

[@williamparker6649]

Well done👍

[@TrevorVonSeggern]

Wow that actually helps a lot, thanks!

[@BadDadio]

I recently replaced my stair treads, runners, & risers with solid white oak. It had been a few years since working with oak and I’ve forgotten how much harder it is to work with than softer woods. One benefit was that I loved the wood smell while cutting. Flit was a fun project.

[@petercharles6462]

A quick note on costs. I am a salesperson at a lumber/building material yard. White oak cost has skyrocketed in the last year, sometimes more than 5 times the cost of red oak. Apparently white oak became the "designer wood of choice" in 2020 and the demand continues to grow. We have several suppliers that are holding quoted prices white oak for only a week due to market prices.

[@DennisRamos]

Thanks for this info! This is something very few people, if not, no one will tell me the detailed difference between these 2 woods. Looking forward to more educational clips from your channel, James! Big thanks!

[@brianhodgson9547]

I need to make a cross - i've been told white is best for external joinery - also, what is the best way to join oak together, what glues to use as this cross will be out in all weathers for YEARS ... also, the finish to use 👍👍👍

[@ef2b]

Someone once told me that white oak can be more difficult to dry properly and, when done improperly, is prone to developing honeycombs in the interior. I learned this when a bunch white oak I had purchased was filled with honeycomb and asked this person how to cope with it. I want to go dig through your videos to see if you've talked about the different types of maple.

[@geoffreyraleigh1674]

Never knew that! Thank you for the upload. Great channel.

[@jackthompson8019]

Good info.

[@tomswift6198]

Cool. Never heard about that thing with the hollow pores before.

[@johnopfer8065]

Great video. Especially the blow-thru demo. Can you comment on the two species’ ability to take stain.

[@jh1562]

Hey Stumpy love the content you put out it’s quite interesting, but I don’t think I’ve seen a video from you about wood shapers? Just curious because I use them everyday in the shop I work at to make cabinet doors and was curious if you had any knowledge you had to offer

[@jh1562]

And I just thought of some follow up questions on that like fences, whether to buy or make your own and proper safety techniques to practice on these machines

[@dubya13207]

The tree tutorial I got in scouts used a mnemonic that is accurate as far as I know: red oak leaves correspond to “red skin” with sharp-tipped arrows, white oak leaves have rounded [old-timey] bullet-shaped leave tips like “white skin” bullets. Obviously this carries some baggage and should be learned in proper context, but it’s useful for identification anyway!

[@wouterbaake7386]

Pneumonic as in something to do with your lungs? Or mnemonic as in something that helps you remember?

[@dubya13207]

Thanks @@wouterbaake7386, I fixed it. It didn’t feel right but spell check only helps so much!

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@summerwind4590]

What is a good way to get red oak ready to finish, my plane is super sharp and taking nice shavings but the surface is rough because of the unfilled pores? I feel like sanding would be a good choice as it would help fill the pores with the dust.

[@TheWoodFly]

DUDE: While I like your under-stair bookcases, the staircase is REALLY cool. Oh, and thank you for the education on wood species. I have used both and on the left coast, red is far more common. Just completed a set of outdoor rockers and used WHITE for greater external durability vs the morris chairs for the family room which are red.

[@profcah]

Love the info. Thanks as usual!

[@rdr6276]

Great video! Ok, so I'm building a skin on frame canoe and just epoxied in 25 ribs made of...... red oak. It was the only oak I could find locally to bend into ribs. I didn't realize how easily it rots until after I epoxied it all together. Any suggestions on sealing the ribs so they don't rot? The canoe won't always be in the water or outside but I understand red oak draws moisture.

[@ColinForBooks]

thanks! helps me expand my wood types knowledge from very poor to less very poor!

[@robertbankhead8661]

Always a fan of White Oak, thanks for the refresher as to why, also never heard of chestnut Oak, how about a brief on that as well

[@patrickdunn8918]

Great info on those important details, although I’m new to this I did the same thing on an oak project, that you did on that beautiful bookcase 👍👍

[@erichelton1888]

Since white oak has closed pores, is it a good choice for endgrain cutting boards? Maybe not the best choice (cherry, maple, walnut, etc.), but good enough?

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Great video 👍

[@tomlagatol4448]

Good info/vid. Thanks

[@tilleyroadaffairproduction6752]

Hi there, thank you for all your great videos. I have recently found a stack of Door jamb kits at my local building store. These kits are not used anymore according to the guys in the lumber yard and so they have been sitting in the warehouse collecting dust. I have used them on a wall in my house as a designer and decorative feature and it looks fantastic. I am thinking of getting some more, as they are very cheap (.90$ a square foot.) but I want to change the colour and and wondering if you have any advice on staining this type of wood. It is as you say very inconsistent colour wise, Some pieces are very red and others lighter.

[@michaelrickert7999]

"Northern" red oak is the cultivar in northeast Iowa. It is a fine wood for interior woodworking. The price for northern red oak on the stump is very low now at $.35 / bd foot.

[@yimhui855]

Very informative! First time to your channel. The way you present it is very easy to understand. Do you know which white oak has the milky color and which areas are they from?

[@ar5909]

Interesting - here in the UK I’d always been taught that white oak is better indoors due to a tendency for lower moisture content and less warping, and red oak for outdoors.

[@jameshubbard4966]

That Cracker Barrel quip had me dying. I’ve never agreed with anything more. Fantastic video as always.

[@paulfowler3416]

Very interesting

[@Tom_H327]

Great info. Subbed.

[@bigray2859]

Thanks!

[@jimblack6733]

I use a lot of red oak as it is plentiful here in Missouri. A lot of the white oak in my area gets cut up for staves. Lots of awesome whisky barrels made here…

[@theWendigo1928]

Correct me if I understood it correctly? When you say "dense" is that determining the strength of the wood? Which in other words White Oak is alittle more stronger then Red Oak?

[@yiminggong667]

white oak price has been going up steady, now it is almost as expensive as walnut

[@HellcrushPlays]

Useful. Thanks.

[@paul756uk2]

Now, I stand to be corrected on this as I'm not an authority on timber but here in the UK I've always distinguished the 2 as American white oak and European oak.

[@bobcashman]

Good information. However, to the best of my knowledge, Tyloses are not resin. They are primarily if not completely cellulose and lignin. Prolific in White Oak (Quercus Alba) and other "white" oaks -- they also are found in other species. Red oak (Quercus Rubrum) apparently has Tyloses in some situations, I think due to other factors like bacteria or disease that may promote their growth? Definitely stretching my memory banks on that front. I don't recall ever seeing them in red oak personally but I recall reading about it long ago.

[@mothman-jz8ug]

After many years in a shop making cabinetry, I retired. In the time between my full retirement benefits (some sources not available until later age... I worked part time for a logging company. I was primarily driving a truck, but worked in the yard on a limited basis. (BTW: I also had many loggers in my family growing up and had worked in the field for a short time after graduating from high school.)The owner loved getting into some good white oak, since prices for logs was second only to walnut. Regardless of species, oak was lumped into two "species" as far as lumber producers go. That is white oak, which is white oak, and red oak which is any oak other than white oak. Again, the saw mill specs, not mine. In my many years of wood working, I always considered white oak comparatively boring wood, where many finished products looked like fake wood due to the utter lack of variation. But the oak I would choose IF it was available, is chestnut oak. Finding such a thing is virtually impossible, since it is lumped in with the everything except white oak group, and pieces are seldom found in any useful quantity. For anyone not familiar with this species, the sapwood is typically a light, creamy color, while the heartwood is often as dark as black walnut. Also, due to the tree's growth habits, L-O-O-G, straight grained, clear boards can be produced. James, if you happen to have any chestnut oak available, please show it in a future video so viewers can see the attractive grain and the gorgeous coloring of this wood.

[@Foxholeatheist]

White oak also takes well to steam-bending, making it a popular choice in wooden boat building.

[@NaserAlOqab]

If you finish red oak with a few coats of poly, can you use it outdoors?

[@dpmeyer4867]

Thanks

[@BirdzofaFeather]

Great video! What if you have a furniture piece you want to re-stain and can't see the end grain? Is there a way to identify which one you have?

[@hayabusaboy21ls]

Dang stumpy, why you gotta call out cracker barrel like that?

[@thomasedition4024]

I have some white oak from my wood moulding company and it’s filled with the same holes and some of my pieces allow me to blow air through them does that mean it’s not true white oak?

[@LeicaCat]

FYI: even thought it’s is spelled the same, “primer” is pronounced “pry-mer" when referring to the protective adhesion layer between paint and a substrate, but is pronounced similarly to the word “dimmer” when referring to an educational introduction.

[@thewabisabicollective7170]

Love learning little things like this. Thank ya, sir!

[@stevengoulet3723]

Great content and great video quality, as always. Is there any difference between red and white oaks in the ways that they will take finishes,such as stains or hard wax oils? Does the open vs closed pore differences between the two affect how they finish up?

[@StumpyNubs]

Both take finish well, but the grain differences are more visible when you stain them.

[@Newova5]

I wonder what you think of live oak in woodworking. Any thoughts?

[@Povweekly]

You need a podcast so when I can’t watch I can listen and soak up some of your knowledge