WOOD TYPE

Common names: American Red Oad, American red Oak Quercus rubra.

Botanical classification: Quercus falcata, g. rubra, q. shumardii. Fam: Fagaceae.

GENERAL

Main products: Sawn wood, veneer.

Natural attributes - structure - origins: Heavy wood (770 kg/m³), with heartwood ranging from yellow-gray to pink, with a reddish tinge. Mainly straight grained and porous with a coarse texture. It has a less attractive design than the white oak due to smaller rays. The Southern oak is faster growing, heavier and rougher. It grows in the U.S. and Canada.

Natural durability in time: The heartwood is not durable and tends to be affected by insects.

Mechanical attributes: Wood with medium flexural strength, average modulus of elasticity and high crushing strength.

Density: R (12-15%) = 0.77 g/cm³

WOOD PROPERTIES AND PROCESSING OPERATIONS

Drying behavior and stability after drying: Slow drying with a tendency for splitting, checking and honeycombing. Requires careful air or kiln drying. There is moderate dimensional variability after drying.

Impregnation behavior:  The sapwood is resistant and the heartwood moderately resistant to impregnation.

Bending behavior: Very good flexural behaviour during steaming.    

Working properties - tool blunting: Causes moderate tool blunting. Must maintain shatp tools.

Νailing and screwing: For nailing predrilling may be required.

Gluing behavior: Caution is required when gluing.

Dyeing and finishing: Good paint, good finish.

APPLICATIONS

Floors, furniture, vehicles, interior carpentry. Plywood, decorative veneers. It is not suitable for outdoor use.