Appearance
Color: Heartwood
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. Plainsawn boards have
a plumed or flared grain appearance; riftsawn has a tighter grain
pattern, low figuring; quartersawn has a flake pattern, sometimes
called tiger rays or butterflies.
Variations
Within Species And Grades: Over
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 can all be
divided into upland and lowland species.
Properties
Hardness/Janka: Janka:1290
Northern (benchmark). Southern: 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.
Durability:
|
Workability
Sawing/Machining: Above
average in all machining operations.
Sanding: Sands
satisfactorily if the correct sanding sequence is
followed.
Nailing: No
known problems.
Finishing: Stains
well & demonstrates strong stain contrast. Red oak generally
works better than white for bleached floors because it is more
porous, and because tannins in white oak can discolor the
floor.
Comments:
Origin: North America
Cost
Multiplier:
Availability
Easily
available.
|
