Exotic Wood Source & Identifying White Oak

[homeline]

I'm new to this wood boat building/repair passion, so so maybe you all know about this.
Came across an ad in a trade publication. Outfit called Thompson Mahogany. They sell exotic wood for decking(like what goes around the pool).
Check them out at www.thompsonmahogany.com

Also, I found a local fellow with some white oak I need for my boat. He was telling me how he distinguishes white oak from red oak. Told me how the white oak has a crystaline like grain (when held close). I have a ton of shipping pallets around the yard (some as long as 12' and 5/4 thick)that has to have some white oak and maybe other good lumber. Any good source of info on identifying rough-cut-slightly-weathered lumber.

Cliff

[homeline]

I'm new to this wood boat building/repair passion, so so maybe you all know about this.
Came across an ad in a trade publication. Outfit called Thompson Mahogany. They sell exotic wood for decking(like what goes around the pool).
Check them out at www.thompsonmahogany.com

Also, I found a local fellow with some white oak I need for my boat. He was telling me how he distinguishes white oak from red oak. Told me how the white oak has a crystaline like grain (when held close). I have a ton of shipping pallets around the yard (some as long as 12' and 5/4 thick)that has to have some white oak and maybe other good lumber. Any good source of info on identifying rough-cut-slightly-weathered lumber.

Cliff

[homeline]

I'm new to this wood boat building/repair passion, so so maybe you all know about this.
Came across an ad in a trade publication. Outfit called Thompson Mahogany. They sell exotic wood for decking(like what goes around the pool).
Check them out at www.thompsonmahogany.com

Also, I found a local fellow with some white oak I need for my boat. He was telling me how he distinguishes white oak from red oak. Told me how the white oak has a crystaline like grain (when held close). I have a ton of shipping pallets around the yard (some as long as 12' and 5/4 thick)that has to have some white oak and maybe other good lumber. Any good source of info on identifying rough-cut-slightly-weathered lumber.

Cliff

[Tom Lathrop]

Best way I know to identify wood is to look at a freshly cut piece of end grain material with a magnifying glass and compare to a book of photographs. The cut must be made with a very sharp knife since a saw will destroy much of the evidence.

Identification by face grain alone is risky. Bruce Hoadly has a really good book of introduction into wood characteristics that is well worth studying if you are interested in this topic.

White versus red oak is easy if you are sure it's oak in the first place. Cut a small piece about 1/2" in the long grain direction and try to blow through it. If you can't, it's white oak. If air passes easily through it, it's red. That's the main reason why red rots much more easily than white. The pores of the red are open and allow water free rein to flow into the interior of the piece. The pores of white oak are filled with stuff called tyloses that block the flow of water or your breath from passing through.

[Tom Lathrop]

Best way I know to identify wood is to look at a freshly cut piece of end grain material with a magnifying glass and compare to a book of photographs. The cut must be made with a very sharp knife since a saw will destroy much of the evidence.

Identification by face grain alone is risky. Bruce Hoadly has a really good book of introduction into wood characteristics that is well worth studying if you are interested in this topic.

White versus red oak is easy if you are sure it's oak in the first place. Cut a small piece about 1/2" in the long grain direction and try to blow through it. If you can't, it's white oak. If air passes easily through it, it's red. That's the main reason why red rots much more easily than white. The pores of the red are open and allow water free rein to flow into the interior of the piece. The pores of white oak are filled with stuff called tyloses that block the flow of water or your breath from passing through.

[Tom Lathrop]

Best way I know to identify wood is to look at a freshly cut piece of end grain material with a magnifying glass and compare to a book of photographs. The cut must be made with a very sharp knife since a saw will destroy much of the evidence.

Identification by face grain alone is risky. Bruce Hoadly has a really good book of introduction into wood characteristics that is well worth studying if you are interested in this topic.

White versus red oak is easy if you are sure it's oak in the first place. Cut a small piece about 1/2" in the long grain direction and try to blow through it. If you can't, it's white oak. If air passes easily through it, it's red. That's the main reason why red rots much more easily than white. The pores of the red are open and allow water free rein to flow into the interior of the piece. The pores of white oak are filled with stuff called tyloses that block the flow of water or your breath from passing through.