1. {Name}
    Welcome to the KKF!
    Please take a moment to register and stop by the New Member Check-In and say hello. We sincerely hope you enjoy your stay and the discussion of all things sharp.
    Feel free to jump right in on the conversation or make your own. We have an edge on life!
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Take a look at our new AUCTION SYSTEM

    This service is available to all KKFora members to both Bid on and Auction off (Sell)items.
    Dismiss Notice

Can anyone identify this wood?

Discussion in 'The Off Topic Room' started by sharkbite111, Nov 13, 2014.

  1. [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I have this computer desk and I'm curious as to what kind of wood it is. I figure some of you handle makers and wood providers would know :)

    Thanks in advance!

    Chris
     
  2. MotoMike

    MotoMike Founding Member

    quarter_sawn_white_oak-004.jpg I'd guess white oak. quarter sawn to give it the ray flake or tiger stripe pattern.
     
  3. Wow! I think the quarter sawn oak is it! My girlfriend wanted to paint it, but i said I like the grain :) Its getting both. Thanks guys!!

    Chris
     
  4. MotoMike

    MotoMike Founding Member

    Your picture doesn't really show the desk much, but if you are willing to paint it, then it must not be a valuable antique. If it were me I'd finish it with some sort of honey redish brown tinted clear finish. I love that tiger stripe pattern.
     
  5. Its defintely not a valuable antique. I'm with you, Mike...I just want to sand and stain it. The GF doesn't want it all stained so we're compromising :) We'll sand and stain the top and drawer handles and paint the sides and legs. That'll make it match in our bedroom better. She already painted the drawer faces and man is that oak grain deep! Its going to take a few coats for sure!!

    Chris
     
  6. Jim

    Jim Old Curmudgeon Founding Member

    Oak is a good guess but I am going to be a contrary and say American chestnut.
    There I did it.
     
  7. MotoMike

    MotoMike Founding Member

    You Went there!
     
  8. Dream Burls

    Dream Burls Founding Member

    Almost definitely quartersawn white oak. IMHO
     
  9. Jim

    Jim Old Curmudgeon Founding Member

    Let me tell you why I guess chestnut: please don't mistake this as anything other than speculative and for the sake of the conversation.

    White oak is famous for several characteristics that make it highly prized , one of which is a "closed" cellular structure. That means that he wood is less able to "wick" water into itself.
    This is a prized characteristic sought out by boat builders. In contrast, red oak has extreme porosity and an open cellular structure. I saw a demonstration once where with a little positive air pressure you could blow bubbles through a piece of it.

    So what does that mean here? when I look at a know specimen of White oak the dark bands are isolated in individual groups while the photo above seems like they are much more "connected"

    here is one photo of Chestnut I found and its not quite quarter sawn but does show the grain I am referring to: the second photo shows it the clearest.

    What sends it over the top for me is the Ridges and Valley effect on the wood as it dried. That large difference is one of the signposts of chestnut and to some lesser extent red oak.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2014
  10. Jim

    Jim Old Curmudgeon Founding Member

    In contrast here is a photo advertised as white oak that I am sure is actually red or pig oak, pretty close to that desk/.

    [​IMG]

    And here is a fair example of white Oak- notice how the grain does not run in long streaks.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2014
  11. Lefty

    Lefty Founding Member

    I'm with Jim. I use White Oak fairly often, and it's more "closed off", in my opinion.
     
  12. Thanks guys!! I was just curious :) Here are a couple pics of what it looks like now

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Whatever it is, I like the way it looks :) GF...not so much lol!

    Chris
     
  13. Jim

    Jim Old Curmudgeon Founding Member

Share This Page