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White oak is used specifically in preference to red oak because the white oaks (a bunch of species, not just Quercus alba, are considered white oak) have tylose
by mauvehaus 5y ago
White oak is used specifically in preference to red oak because the white oaks (a bunch of species, not just Quercus alba, are considered white oak) have tyloses blocking the pores in the wood. The red oaks (ditto) do not. The fact that white oak is also fairly decay resistant probably has something to do with this as well.
A neat parlor trick is to take a bit of red oak, put one end in your mouth, the other in a glass of water and blow bubbles.
This is also why white oak is famously used for whiskey barrels and other tight cooperage (vessels holding liquids), and red oak is used for slack cooperage (vessels that don't hold liquids).
- zbobet2012 5y agoLive oak (Quercus Virgina) is also used throughout the ship because of it's hardness and strength. Live oak is comparable in hardness to ebony, with incredible rot resistance (more so than even white oak). Even more fascinating because of the hardness of live oak the constitution famously made the cannonballs of the british literally bounce away, causing a crew man to proclaim her sides are made of iron. Hence the name old ironsides. https://www.nps.gov/articles/old-ironsides.htm https://www.nps.gov/articles/old-ironsides.htm The USS Constitution is also the only active US Navy ship to have sunk another ship.
- oh_sigh 5y agoDemonstration of the difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6t2AZubF8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6t2AZubF8U The whole channel is amazing by the way, if you think you might have any kind of interest in traditional shipbuilding techniques. Louis is an incredible teacher and extremely talented at his craft.
- OldHand2018 5y agoThat is amazing. My property here in Illinois has White Oak and Black Walnut on it. They are beautiful, fantastic trees that grow so easily in this area.