Red Oak (Quercus spp.)
Description: The sapwood of red oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is a pinkish reddish brown. The wood is similar in general appearance to white oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure due to the similar rays. The wood is mostly straight-grained, with a coarse texture.
Main Uses: Furniture, flooring, architectural millwork and mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, paneling and caskets.
Physical Properties: The wood is hard and heavy, with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength. It is very good for steam-bending. Great wear-resistance.
Availability: Abundant. Most widely used species.
Working Properties: Red oak machines well, nailing and screwing are good although pre-boring is recommended, and it can be stained with a wide range of finish tones. It dries slowly.
| Machining | Nailing | Screwing | Gluing | Finishing |
| Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Excellent |
Strength and Mechanical Properties: (inch-pound)
| Moisture Content | Green-12% |
| Specific Gravity | 0.52-0.69 |
| Static Bending: Modulus of Rupture (lbf/in^2) | 7,400-18,100 |
| Static Bending: Modulus of Elasticity (10^6 lbf/in^2) | 1.14-2.28 |
| Static Bending: Work to Maximum Load (in-lbf/in^3) | 8.0-21.5 |
| Impact Bending to Grain (in) | 26-54 |
| Compression Parallel to Grain (lbf/in^2) | 3,000-8,740 |
| Compression Perpendicular to Grain (lbf/in^2) | 550-1,250 |
| Shear Parallel to Grain (lbf/in^2) | 930-2,080 |
| Tension Perpendicular to Grain (lbf/in^2) | -- - 1,050 |
| Side Hardness (lbf) | 860-1,510 |
Source: American Hardwood Information Center, Species Guide