At One Place

White oak

Density of white oak
755 kg/m³ (700–800)
0.76 g/cm³ · 47.1 lb/ft³

Its pores are plugged by growths called tyloses, which makes it effectively watertight — this is the single reason every whisky and wine barrel in the world is white oak and not the cheaper red oak. The same closed structure gives it real rot resistance, so it works outdoors untreated. Like cedar it is high in tannin, which reacts with iron to produce black stains, so oak takes brass, bronze or stainless fixings.

Properties

Density
755 kg/m³ (700–800) — 0.76 g/cm³
Young's modulus
12.3 GPa
Floats in water
Yes
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Whisky, wine and sherry barrels
  • Boat frames and decking
  • Exterior doors, thresholds and joinery
  • High-end flooring and furniture

How it compares

Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.

air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
white oak 755 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.
Material Density Relative to water
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³ 0.04×
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³ 0.02×
air 1.2 kg/m³ 0.00×
white oak ← 755 kg/m³ 0.76×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

White oak contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

Is it magnetic?

White oak is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of white oak?
755 kg/m³ (700–800), or 0.76 g/cm³.
Does white oak float?
Yes. At 755 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
Is white oak magnetic?
White oak is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked