American Red Oak is one of the most beautiful woods to work with due to its grain pattern and character. It is fast growing and regenerates easily. American Red Oak is used for construction, furniture, flooring, architectural interiors, doors, and kitchen cabinets. It has moderate blunting effects on cutters, sands readily, and holds screws firmly, though it is difficult to dry and not very durable or suitable for tight cooperage.

1. Technical Information > Hardwood Timber
Timber Species > American Red Oak
American Red Oak is regarded as one of the most beautiful woods to work with because of its grain
pattern and character. It is one of the most fast growing oaks, reported to re-generate easily.
Uses
Construction, furniture, flooring, architectural interiors, internal joinery and mouldings, doors, kitchen
cabinets, panelling, coffins and caskets. Not suitable for tight cooperage.
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ILLINGWORTH
INGHAM (M/cr) LTD

2. Appearance
Colour – The sapwood of American Red Oak is Greyish to Pale Reddish Brown. The heartwood is
light reddish brown to light brown. May show a pronounced cast of flesh colour.
Grain – Usually straight and open. Grain and colour variation is usually pronounced dependant on the
origin. Usually exhibits a plumed or flared grain appearance.
Texture – Depends on the rate of growth of the tree. Northern grown American Red Oaks are less
coarse textured than the faster grown ones from the Southern States. Illingworth Ingham’s stocks are
usually from the North. Red Oak rays are generally shorter, narrower and darker than white oak.
Characteristics
Strength – American Red Oak compares in strength to American White Oak.
Weight – 790 kg/m³.
Natural Durability – Little resistance to attack by decay causing organisms and other wood
destroying insects.
Ease Of Drying – Generally difficult, but faster than White Oak. Drying defects such as ring failure,
iron stains and honeycomb can occur.
Preservative Treatment – Resistant to Preservative Treatments
Working properties
Blunting Effect On Cutters – Moderate.
Planing – Hard, but responds readily to sharp tools to yield clean, smooth surfaces (91%).
Turning Qualities – Rated as good and surfaces are generally clean (84%)
Boring – Ring porous but still has good boring properties (99%)
Moulding – Very poor.
Gluing – Satisfactory.
Nailing – Heavy and must be pre-bored. (66%).
Screwing – Good, holds screws firmly (78%).
Sanding – Sands readily to produce a clean surface (81%).
Steam Bending – Often used (86%).
Finishing
Staining – Good. Large pores tend to produce strong contrast in staining. A darker colour stain
preceded by a light colour filler produces the “lime” look and a high tannin content allows wood to be
treated with ammonia to yield a nearly black “Jacobean” finish.

3. Specification for American Red Oak
PLEASE NOTE IF FSC/PEFC CERTIFIED WOOD IS REQUIRED PLEASE SPECIFY AT TIME OF PLACING AN ORDER.

4. AMERICAN RED OAK
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ILLINGWORTH INGHAM TIMBER — BRANCHES
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http://www.macclesfield-timber.co.uk/
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http://hydetimber.co.uk/
Illingworth Ingham Timber | Stockport
http://portwoodtimber.com/
Illingworth Ingham Timber | Trafford
http://www.trafford-timber.co.uk/