Red oak (scientific name: Quercusrubra) has a heartwood of light to medium brown color, with a reddish cast. Sapwood is nearly white to light brown and not distinguishable from the heartwood. Its texture is coarse and uneven, and its grain is straight. Quarter cut/sawn sections have prominent ray fleck patterns.
Red oak is commonly found in southeastern Canada and northeastern United States. It is not durable for heartwood decay.
Janka Hardness :
5,430 N (1,220 lbf)
Average Dried Weight :
700 kg/m3 (44 lbs/ft3)
Workability :
Good results can be are achieved with either hand tools or machine tools. Red oak turns well and responds well to steam bending. It is good with glues and stains and finishes well. Its moderate to high shrinkage value results in poor dimensional stability, particularly in flat cut/sawn boards. It is prone to reacting with iron, especially when wet, which causes discoloration and staining.
