Wood species

Red Oak

Quercus rubra · Fagaceae

Arguably the most popular hardwood in the United States and the value pick among OCC's oaks. Its 3 to 6 ft trunks give OCC its widest slabs.

Janka hardness: 1290 lbf
Density: 44.0 lb/ft³
Shrinkage T / R: 8.6 / 4.0 %
Origin: Northeastern United States and southeastern Canada
IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Shop Red Oak in stock (74)All live edge slabs

(Pre-Built) Red Oak Live Edge Tabletop #PB238 150" x 42" - 47" x 2.1" — overhead view — Oak City Customs

Pictured: (Pre-Built) Red Oak Live Edge Tabletop #PB238 150" x 42" - 47" x 2.1"

About Red Oak

Red Oak heartwood is light to medium brown with a reddish cast, and the paler sapwood is not always sharply set off from it. Grain is straight with a coarse, uneven texture, and the pores are open enough to blow air through a short piece end to end. It machines well with hand and power tools, and that open grain drinks oil or wants a grain filler under a film finish, so plan the finish before you sand. Rated non-durable, it belongs indoors. It suits dining tables, desks, benches and shelving, and it is the value pick among our oaks. Ours is milled and kiln dried in Zebulon, NC.

Working & finishing

Machines well with hand and power tools and scores near the top in machinability. The very large open pores drink oil and telegraph through thin film finishes unless filled, so plan the finish before sanding. Like white oak it blackens on wet iron; use coated or stainless fasteners. Oil and hardwax warm the pink toward amber; a filled film finish gives a flat smooth top.

Care

Indoor use only; rated non-durable with poor insect resistance. Wipe spills quickly because the open pores wick water, and seal both faces of a finished top. Expect the most across-the-width seasonal movement of the Tier 1 oaks; the base must allow it.

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