Red Oak

Most pieces of Red Oak have a reddish tone, though some are lighter in color than others. Originating from North America, Red Oak has a slightly coarse texture. This wood is a medium hardness, which makes it ideal for a variety of lifestyles.

Appearance

Color: Hardwood and sapwood are similar, with sapwood lighter in color; most pieces have a reddish tone. Slightly redder than white oak.

Grain: Open, slightly coarser (more porous) than white oak. Plain sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; rift sawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quarter sawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger rays or butterflies.

Variations within species and grades: More than 200 subspecies in North America; great variation in color and grain, depending on the origin of the wood and differences in growing seasons. Northern, Southern and Appalachian red oak all can be divided into upland and lowland species. Because they grow more slowly, upland species have a more uniform grain pattern than lowland species, with more growth rings per inch.

Properties

Hardness (Janka): Northern: 1290 (benchmark). Southern: below average (1060; 18% softer than Northern red oak).

Dimensional Stability: Northern: average (8.6). Southern: below average (11.3; 31% less stable than Northern red oak.)

Origin

North America