Well he asked what oak to use, not what wood to use. Didn't even think to specify white oak species because I wouldn't consider anything else. Quartersawn oak is more expensive because it ain't the way to get the most boards out of a log. All the old school oak desks and furniture boards were cut this way, it's distinctive because of the xylem rays, those feathery lookin' deals that ripple through the finish. It's more stable cut this way and won't warp, that's why it was cut that way to begin with.

I bet the synthetic flooring type stuff would work good (and be a lot cheaper), but that isn't what he asked. I've seen lots of oak used for trailer beds, but they were always covered now that I think about it.

 

I don't own stock in any apitong forest, I thought I'd just throw it out there. I'm familiar with both species, and have worked on ships with apitong decks and can say that the stuff is almost bullet proof and not susceptible to rot like oak is. That's all. Go oak if you want.

 

"Apitong"? Yall ain't from around here is ya? lol

Some south american hardwood?

edit:

"Dipterocarpus grandiflorus is a critically endangered common medium hardwood tree in South-East Asia and India. Its wood is used to produce good quality charcoal, paper pulp, and timber sold under the Keruing designation." (Wiki)

Hard to figure how it's both common, yet endangered. Hm.

 

Yes, I used Trex to avoid rot as I wanted to cover it with polished diamond plate. I had tried marine grade plywood underneath the diamond plate but it did not last.