Red oak vs. white oak

[wallyb10]

I broke one of the jaws on my gaff and will need to fabricate a new piece. Someone suggested that I use white oak, however, the lumber yards around me only stock red oak. Is there any appreciable difference? It will be painted so appearance is not an issue.

[Dayton Eckerson]

White oak has very good rot resistance; red oak does not. That's why you almost never see anything but white oak on a boat. I don't understand the science, but it has something to do with closed cell structure versus open. Keep looking for the white. Good luck.

[casem]

There are a couple of red oak vs white oak threads. Try the search button.

I personally would hold out for white oak.

[Jim H]

"Red Oak vs. White oak" (NIA) (http://media5.hypernet.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=005866) from the FAQ.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Wally:

Check around, you are in Ohio for heavens sake. White oak is indigenous to the midwest. The local specialty lumber yard makes a distinction that their red oak is northern red oak rather than southern. Due to climactic differences the grain structure is tighter for the northern. The southern grows faster due to the longer season but is not as preferred for furniture makers.

[Wayne Jeffers]

Can you epoxy back the busted jaw? Maybe with a dowel or two for reinforcement?

The most important difference between white oak and red oak for boats is the rot resistance of the former and the relative lack of same for the latter. For gaff jaws, which are not in continual contact with water, the difference is probably not significant.

For this you could use most native hardwoods that do not split so easily, such as any of the oaks, beech, ash, any of the fruitwoods, black locust, cherry.

Wayne

[Jack Heinlen]

Red oak would work fine for gaff jaws.

[cs]

I will not comment on whether red oak will work fine for gaff jaws since that is above the water line (I hope ;) ). But I wll tell you a way to see the difference in White Oak and Red Oak.

Go out the local hardware store and buy you a hardwood dowel made of Red Oak. Cut off a piece about 4-5" long and place it in a glass of water. Now this may sound silly but pretend the dowel is a straw and you want to blow bubbles in your drink. You will be suprised to see bubbles come out the other end. In reverse if you try hard enough you can draw water up through the dowel, just like a straw.

This is why R. Oak is not used below the water line.

Chad

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I'm sure there's a place near Cleveland where you can get white oak. I'm further west so I would go here----> http://www.homesteadhardwoods.com/

P.S. Morning Chad, Merry Christmas! smile.gif

[cs]

Good morning Kevin and a Merry Christmas to you.

Chad

[NormMessinger]

I'm suprised white oak is not generally availiable in Ohio. Probably not in the stores of the orange ilk but in shops that sell to woodworkers, amature or professional. Molding shops may be an alternative, too.

It won't take much to fix your jaws so, I'll tell ya what, wallyb10, tell me what size piece you need and if I have a scrap in the shop and can find it I'll mail it to you. If not, I'll go out to Hardwood Heaven (where all good trees go when they die) and get you a piece. You can reimburse me for the wood in that case.

[Wayne Jeffers]

White oak is no problem to find in this part of Ohio. Just go to any country sawmill.

Wayne

[Donn]

There used to be a couple of Amish lumber yards in Hiram and Mantua...just a bit east of you. If they're still there, you can get White Oak from them easily.

[HOWdie]

If you could find yourself some nice crooks in either white or red I'd use them before cutting them out of straight grain stock. Red will tend to open up more if left exposed but should hold up well that way also as long as the checks be filled often.

mho