Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium reddish-brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. White Oak tends to be slightly more olive-colored, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

Grain/Pore: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain. The pores are so large and open that it is said that a person can blow into one end of the wood, and air will come out the other end: provided that the grain runs straight enough.