Quote:
Originally Posted by lrf
If you go with oak, be sure it is white oak, it has a finer, tight grain whereas red oak is a more open grain letting in moisture. LRF
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White Oaks finer grain is made up of small elongated football shapes that wouldn't accept liquid. Red Oak grain is like a pile of straws running the length of the wood which allows it to suck up lots of liquid.
With these conditions, railway ties made from white oak did not always use protection, where Red Oak had to be Creosoted to last any time in the dampness.
Here is a neet experiment to try with these two woods. Get a straight grained piece of each, size is not fussy. Blow on one end of each with the opposite end in a container of water. Nothing happens with the White Oak but the Red Oak will blow bubbles. I have blown bubbles with a six foot piece of Red Oak.
This is probably more fun than usefull but I couldn't resist.