Red Oak Products

Red Oak (Quercus spp)

Tilo makes a number of products using red oak, including

architectural millwork
cabinets
doors
flooring
furniture
moulding
paneling

Browse our selection of Standard Profiles or talk to us about a Custom Profile using red oak hardwood.

General Description of Red Oak

The sapwood of red oak is white to light brown, while 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 smaller rays. The wood is mostly straight-grained, with a coarse texture.

Relative Abundance and Availability of Red Oak

36.6 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available. Abundant, red oak is the most widely used species.

Working Properties of Red Oak

machines well
nails and screws well although pre-boring is advised
can be stained to a good finish
can be stained with a wide range of finish tones
wood dries slowly

Machining
Nailing
Screwing
Gluing
Finishing

Physical Properties of Red Oak

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.

Strength And Mechanical Properties (inch-pound) (a)
Moisture content	12%
Specific Gravity (b)	0.52-0.69
Static Bending Modulus of Rupture (lbf/in2)	7,400-18,100
Static Bending Modulus of Elasticity (c) (106 lbf/in2)	1.14-2.28
Static Bending Work to Maximum Load (in-lbf/in3)	8.0-21.5
Impact Bending to Grain (in)	26-54
Compression Parallel to Grain (lbf/in2)	3,000-8,740
Compression Perpendicular to Grain (lbf/in2)	550-1,250
Shear Parallel to Grain (lbf/in2)	930-2,080
Tension Perpendicular to Grain (lbf/in2)	1,050
Side Hardness (lbf)	860-1,510

a) Results of tests on small clear specimens in the green and air-dried conditions. Definition of properties; impact bending is height of drop that causes complete failure, using 0.71-kg (50 lb.) hammer; compression parallel to grain is also called maximum crushing strength; compression perpendicular to grain is fiber stress at proportional limit; shear is maximum shearing strength; tension is maximum tensile strength; and side hardness is hardness measured when load is perpendicular to grain.

b) Specific gravity is based on weight when oven dry and volume when green or at 12% moisture content.

c) Modulus of elasticity measured from a simply supported, center-loaded beam, on a span depth ratio of 14/1. To correct for shear reflection, the modulus can be increased by 10%.

Reprinted with permission from Hardwood Manufacturers Association