[ timbers ]
American Red Oak
[ About our timber ]
WARM NATURAL TONES WITH BOLD, OPEN GRAIN AND CLASSIC OAK CHARACTER
The sapwood of red oak is white to light brown, while the heartwood is often pinkish-reddish brown. The timber is similar in general appearance to white oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure due to smaller rays and a more porous end grain structure. It is mostly straight-grained with a coarse texture.
[ Mechanical properties ]
The wood is hard and heavy, with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength. It is very good for steam bending. More detailed strength information is available in AHECʼs publication Structural design in American hardwoods.
Botanical name (Latin):
Quercus rubra
Other names:
Northern red oak, Southern red oak
Working Properties:
Red oak machines well; nailing and screwing is good although pre-boring is recommended, and it can be stained and polished to a very good finish. It performs best when dried slowly, reducing the opportunity for degrade such as splits and warp. It has a high shrinkage and can be susceptible to movement in performance under variable moisture conditions.
Durability:
Rated slightly non-resistant to heartwood decay, moderately easy to treat with preservatives.
main uses:
Construction, furniture, flooring, architectural interiors, internal joinery, stairs and mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, panelling and coffins. Not suitable for tight cooperage. Red oak can vary in colour, texture, characteristics and properties according to the growing region. It is therefore recommended that users and specifiers work closely with their suppliers to make sure the wood they order is suited to their specific needs.
Other Information:
This attractive looking oak, that is widely available, is increasingly being chosen by designers and architects for furniture, joinery and flooring in export markets around the world. While some red oak can have adistinct pink or red colour, other supplies can appear very similar to whiteoak. This is especially true once a finish is applied, which results in more ‘mixed oak’ products.
