Wood Species Guide
Oregon White Oak
Quercus garryana
Also called: Garry Oak, Oregon Oak, Western White Oak, Post Oak (regional)
What Oregon White Oak looks like
Light to medium brown heartwood with a yellowish to olive cast, and pale sapwood.
Grain and texture
Coarse, open grain. Slow-grown trees can be dense and tight ringed, and quartersawn stock shows strong fleck.
Working Oregon White Oak: planing, cutting and gluing
Harder and heavier than eastern white oak, with more blunting on blades. It can be prone to warping and checking while drying. Sharp tools and careful drying give good results, and it glues well.
Finishing Oregon White Oak: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Finishes much like other white oaks, with even stain uptake and a warm tone under oil. Seal before epoxy. The tannins react with iron, so avoid steel wool on bare wood.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
The heartwood is durable and has a long history in West Coast boatbuilding. It moves a fair amount. In Florida, give it extra acclimation time and finish both faces evenly.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Oregon white oak is the only native oak of the Pacific Northwest of any size, and much of it comes from land clearing and urban trees rather than big commercial mills. Slabs can be hard, dense and full of character. It is a specialty item outside the West. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Oregon White Oak
Furniture, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels for wine, fence posts and live-edge tables.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. The species is not threatened, but its oak savanna habitat has shrunk a lot and is protected in some areas.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
Oak dust often irritates eyes, skin and airways, and some people become allergic with repeated exposure. Long, heavy exposure to fine oak dust is linked to nasal cancer.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask or respirator when sanding; gloves if your skin reacts
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Like other oaks, the dust can irritate eyes, skin and airways, and a few people become sensitized over time. Run dust collection and wear a mask or respirator when sanding.
Oregon White Oak in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Oregon White Oak listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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