White Oak lumber collection
Open-grain domestic alternative with strong furniture and millwork demand.
View optionTanoak Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Tanoak is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameNotholithocarpus densiflorus
Janka hardness1,420 lbf
Average dried weight42 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Tanoak?
Tanoak is a domestic hardwood species. Found in the western United States. Used for furniture, railroad cross-ties, flooring and veneer.
Scientific nameNotholithocarpus densiflorus
DistributionFound in the western United States
ShrinkageRadial: 4.9%, Tangential: 11.7%, Volumetric: 17.3%, T/R Ratio: 2.4
DurabilityIt is rated non-durable to perishable, with poor resistance to insects.
Tanoak colour, grain, and figure
Sapwood and heartwood alike are a reddish brown, light to medium in tone, darkening with age, and the very wide sapwood is not clearly set apart from the heartwood.
Straight grain is typical, with a texture that is uniform and medium to coarse.
Working notes
Hand and machine tools work it well, but drying the lumber without defects or discolouration can be challenging. Dimensional stability is poor.
No health effects beyond the usual risks of any wood dust have been linked to Tanoak.
Tanoak should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Tanoak
Best projects
Used for furniture, railroad cross-ties, flooring and veneer.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Tanoak from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Black Ash lumber collection
Closest Kingma ash-family shopping path where available.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Tanoak FAQ
What is Tanoak best used for?
Used for furniture, railroad cross-ties, flooring and veneer. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Tanoak beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Tanoak?
The buying section on this page links to any Tanoak Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.