RED OAK HARDWOOD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

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RED OAK HARDWOOD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

An In-Depth Look at Red Oak’s Characteristics, Color, Grain & More

RED OAK

OTHER COMMON NAMES

Red Oak is sometimes referred to as red oak, northern red oak, eastern red oak, gray oak, or Canadian red oak (if grown within the southeastern region of Canada). [6]

LATIN NAME

Northern red oak’s scientific name is Quercus rubra, which helps to differentiate it from the southern red oak. [1]

CHARACTERISTICS - RED OAK

Freshly cut red oak sapwood is light in color (ranging from nearly white to light brown) and commonly has a pink to reddish hue. The heartwood is light brown to medium brown, with more reddish brown variations. Depending on the project, both sapwood and heartwood are used in the production of natural hardwood products. [1]

MAIN USES - RED OAK

Red oak trees are native to North America and are one of the most common species of hardwood found in North America. They grow in great abundance, and are often referred to as utility wood.[3] There are many types of sub-species within the red oak wood classification and the variations are dependent upon the region. Pricing of this species is less than white oak and affordably priced when compared to other domestic hardwoods.[1]

Red oak lumber offers ideal woodworking properties for both novice and experienced woodworkers and can work well with basic power tools. [3] It is highly sought after in the export markets and is also a desired species for carved, decorative projects [3].

Common applications of red oak include cabinetry, hardwood flooring, paneling, beams, doors, furniture, caskets, veneer, dowel rods, pallets, plywood, mouldings and trim. [1][3]

CABINETRY
FURNITURE
FLOORING
DOWEL RODS
MOULDINGS & TRIM

MILLING

Standing red oak trees grow rapidly and very abundantly throughout the eastern United States. Because of moderately high shrinkage values, red oak lumber should be dried slowly in a kiln in case of any potential degradation.[1]

When dried from a green condition, red oak can become dimensionally unstable, especially flatsawn boards. However, red oak does offer great durability, a high crushing strength, and responds well to steam-bending.[1] It is recommended to pre-bore any nailing and screwing, and overall, red oak wood is a great selection for finishing, staining, and bonding with glues.

HARDWOOD PROPERTIES - RED OAK

Northern red oak has great workability and is widely known for its grain being straight with a coarse, uneven texture.[3] With large open pores and smaller rays within the grain, red oak looks slightly different than white oak. Red oak lumber is also less water resistant and more susceptible to weather elements and insects. [3] Unlike white oak, red oak wood lacks tyloses, which allows water to escape. [1]

Red oak’s unique grain easily accepts stain in a variety of colors and produces a beautiful finish. It responds well to sanding with tools or sand paper, and swirls from a circular sanding motion can easily be removed.[2]

Red oak wood is slightly softer when compared to white oak, but still moderately hard, sitting at 1290 on the Janka Hardness Scale. Sharp tools and cutting edges are important because the hardness of the wood requires power tools and following the direction of the grain. Carbide blades are recommended. [2]

Janka Hardness Scale

ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE - RED OAK

Northern red oak trees grow throughout North America, in both the United States and Canada. An abundance of red oak trees can be found throughout the northern Appalachian region, as far north as the Great Lakes, east to Nova Scotia, west to Nebraska, and south to Alabama.

Red oak usually prefers moist, well-drained soils, and the largest trees are often found on mountain slopes and plateaus. There is little to no threat to its population, as red oak trees can grow up to 24 inches in one year.[2]

Northern red oak trees can reach heights up to 150 feet with a diameter of 6 to 8 feet, but a typical red oak tree grows about 75 feet tall with the trunk splitting into large branches that can spread over 45 feet wide.[2]

Red oak trees prefer moist, deep soils that are slightly acidic. They can be adaptable to dry soil, undrained soils, transplanting, or slightly alkaline soils, but full direct sun is ideal for red oak, especially when in youth stages of growth.[5]

The outline of the tree is round, and provides dense shade. When in bloom from April to May, pale yellow catkins grow on the end of the branches. Red oak leaves are very distinct because they have 7 to 11 waxy, pointed lobes.[5] They also produce and drop acorns for wildlife and reproduction.

In the fall, the leaves will turn to beautiful shades of yellow, golden, orange, and bright red. The bark varies from light gray to darker gray depending on the age of the tree.[5]

Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m3

All data derives from Forest Inventory Data Online (FIDO), a component of the U.S. Forest Service Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA). Data was compiled by AHEC in January 2016 using the most recent state inventory available (2014 for most states). "Forest volume" refers to "net volume of live trees on forest land," as defined by FIA (see glossary). FIA forest volume data is available for 49 U.S. states (Hawaii and Washington D.C. are omitted) with total hardwood forest volume of 18.1 billion m3 of which 13.5 billion m3are commercially significant.

RED OAK PRODUCTS AT BAIRD BROTHERS

Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods is happy to assist with any questions you have about our red oak products, which include a variety of Red Oak doors, Red Oak mouldings, Red Oak S4S lumber, Red Oak plywood and other items.

 

Please call 1-800-732-1697 or Contact Us if you need help with our extensive inventory.

COMPARISON TO OTHER WOOD SPECIES

Source: The Department of Agriculture's Wood Handbook

LumberSpecific GravityJanka HardnessModulus of Elasticity (MPa)Impact Bending (mm)Grain
African Mahogany --- 830 lb 9,700 --- Medium/Coarse
Alder 0.41 590 lb 9,500 510 Fine
Ash 0.6 1,320 lb 12,000 1,090 Fine
Basswood 0.37 410 lb 10,100 410 Fine
Beech 0.64 1,300 lb 11,900 1,040 Fine/Medium
Birch, Yellow 0.62 1,260 lb 13,900 1,400 Fine
Cedar, Western Red 0.32 350 lb 7,700 430 Fine
Cherry, Brazilian 0.91 2,350 lb 22,510 --- Medium
Cherry 0.5 950 lb 10,300 740 Fine
Cypress 0.51 510 lb 6,300 --- Medium
Douglas Fir 0.48 710 lb 12,300 660 Medium/Coarse
Hemlock 0.4 540 lb 8,300 530 Coarse
Hickory 0.66 1,820 lb 11,900 1,120 Medium
Maple, Hard 0.63 1,450 lb 12,600 990 Fine
Maple, Soft 0.47 700 lb 7,900 640 Fine
Oak, Red 0.63 1,290 lb 12,500 1,090 Coarse
Oak, White 0.68 1,360 lb 12,300 940 Coarse
Pine, Eastern White 0.35 380 lb 8,500 460 Medium
Pine, Ponderosa 0.4 460 lb 8,900 480 Medium
Pine, Yellow (Shortleaf) 0.51 690 lb 12,100 840 Fine/Medium
Poplar 0.42 540 lb 10,900 610 Medium
Sapele 0.67 1,410 lb 15,930 --- Fine
Teak 0.66 1,070 lb 10,700 --- Coarse
Walnut (Black) 0.55 1,010 lb 11,600 860 Medium

*Data is based on a moisture content of 12%.

GLOSSARY

Impact Bending — In the impact bending test, a hammer of given weight is dropped upon a beam from successively increased heights until rupture occurs or the beam deflects 152 mm (6 in.) or more. The height of the maximum drop, or the drop that causes failure, is a comparative value that represents the ability of wood to absorb s hocks that cause stresses beyond the proportional limit.

Janka Hardness — Defined as resistance to indentation using a modified Janka hardness test, measured by the load required to embed a 11.28-mm (0.444-in) ball to one-half its diameter. Values presented are the average of radial and tangential penetrations.

Modulus of Elasticity — Elasticity implies that deformations produced by low stress are completely recoverable after loads are removed. When loaded to higher stress levels, plastic deformation or failure occurs.

Specific Gravity - A measure of the ratio of a wood's density as compared to water. If a wood species had the same density as water, the specific gravity would be 1.00.

SOURCES

  1. “Red Oak”. The Wood Database. Wood-database.com.
  2. “Northern Red Oak”. WoodMagazine.com. Accessed Mar. 2021.
  3. “ Red Oak”. Hardwood Export Council. hardwood.org. Accessed Mar. 2021.
  4. “Wood Handbook, Wood as an Engineering Material”. fpl.fs.fed.us. April 2010. Accessed Feb. 2021.
  5. “Northern Red Oak”. Arbor Day Foundation. Arborday.org. Accessed Mar. 2021.
  6. “Red Oak Lumber”. Woodworkerssource.com. Accessed Mar. 2021.
  7. “Wood Species Guide”. R.S. Boone. Furniture Design & Manufacturing. Dec. 1988. Accessed Jan. 2020.
  8. "Janka Hardness Scale" Bairdbrothers.com
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