American Red Oak

The heartwood has a biscuit to pinkish- or reddish-brown colour. Red oak is similar in appearance to white oak, but has smaller rays, which result in a less pronounced figure. The grain is usually straight and open, but can vary. It generally has a coarse texture, but this can also vary depending on the origin of the tree. Quartersawn stock can have a flake pattern that is sometimes referred to as 'butterflies' or 'tiger rays'. The sapwood is white to light brown.

Properties:

It is heavy and hard, with medium stiffness and bending strength and a high crushing strength. It steam-bends very well, and is very hard-wearing. The wood works well with sharp hand and machine tools. It has a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges, but can be planed, sawn, turned, bored and sanded well. Pre-boring is advised for screwing and nailing, and it glues satisfactorily. Red oak takes stain and polishes well, and can be limed to good effect.

Seasoning:

It is slow-drying and difficult to season. End and surface checks, honeycombing, collapse, ring failure and iron staining can occur whilst drying. The wood displays medium movement in service.

Durability:

The heartwood is resistant to decay, but the wood can be attacked by ambrosia beetles and other insects. The heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment, and the sapwood moderately so.

Typical Uses:

Furniture and cabinetmaking, joinery, office furniture, boatbuilding, trim, panelling, flooring, cooperage for wine and whisky, coffins, shingles, sleepers (railroad ties); also sliced for figured veneers and rotary-cut for plywood.

Quercus rubra and related species (Fagaceae)

Also called:

northern red oak, red oak, Canadian red oak, grey oak; also sold with southern red oak or Spanish oak (Q. falcata) as 'red oak'

Grows:

Eastern Canada and USA

Weight per Board Foot:

3.8 lbs

Typical dry weight:

48lb/ft3 (770kg/m3)

Specific Gravity:

.77

Typical Height:

80-100ft (35-30m)

Trunk Diameter:

3-4ft (0.9-1.2m)**4'x8' 10mm Paper Back Veneer
10 bf min