Red Oak, domestic hardwood, commonly called rift cut red oak lumber, is a warm dark brown to slightly pinkish red color. It’s available in 4 X 8, 4 X 10 and 8 X 4 sizes as Flex Ven 10 and Flex Ven 20 sieve wood sieve, Tuf-Paste wood sieve, cross-grain hardwood plywood veneers, Pli-Tie blend, polywood and Tuf-Gravel. This kind of oak lumber has very straight grain, straight rays and very good dimensional stability. There are some species of red oak that are very resistant to insects, fungi and moisture. It is one of the best sources for domestic hardwood available for sale at Tropical Forest Products.
Texture
The beauty of red oak veneers is that they can be sanded to make wood lighter, darker, whiter or even transparent. The red oak wood veneers are available at different prices depending on the size, grade and type. They are mostly used in furniture construction due to its ability to be glued easily and stay in place. Due to its inherent features, it is a popular choice for high-end design homes.
Versatility
In addition to its beauty, the red oak is also popular for its versatility. Its availability anywhere in the world is an advantage. For example, it can be used in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. There are even manufacturers who produce and export their product worldwide. Due to its good demand, a rift cut veneer of red oak is usually priced lower than other hardwood varieties.
Dimensional Stability
One of the unique qualities of the rift cut red oak wood veneers is that it has excellent dimensional stability. This is why they are often used in applications where there is considerable amount of pressure, such as edge banding, saddle shoe bases and other shear edges. It also has good compressive strength and is known to be able to withstand the impact of wedges, nails and hammers.
Sound Insulation
Ridges provide good sound insulation which makes these veneers ideal for sound insulation in interior spaces such as bedrooms, dens and recording studios. This feature makes them a popular choice for home theater rooms. The wood’s light weight enables it to be used in furniture and other structures with less structural support. Some types of veneers are textured for more realistic image, while others are smooth to allow for more flexibility when making detailed cuts.
Range of Colors
Ridges have good color control properties and are available in a variety of hues from dark browns to blacks. Red is the most popular wood used for these veneers, due to the fact that it can mimic the natural look of red oak. They can also be available with grain or knots, but this depends on the manufacturer. Commonly, wood grain is visible but not necessary when using this type of wood veneers. It is important to note that the grain will be visible if you have a light stain on your wood, such as a walnut stain. You can also ask your vendor if it is possible to stain your pieces with colors.
Stains
Due to the close bond between these wood veneers and the oak tree, it can be difficult to find wood veneers that have not been stained. In addition, many manufacturers of rift cut shelves will stain your wood themselves. This is a great way to ensure that the wood is not only as close to the original wood as possible, but can still look amazing. Some people may prefer to purchase unfinished wood veneers, especially if they are building a shelf from scratch. Unfinished pieces are easy to work on, have a very realistic grain and have great dimensional stability.
The Bottom line
There are many pros and cons to using Red Oak when creating shelving units. One of the main pros is that because Red Oak can easily be found in great quantities, it is the most cost effective wood option. Also, because it is so common, the price is relatively low compared to alternative types of wood. The one con is that these shelves can take several years before they become completely finished. The upside is that they can last for generations and provide a great way to store your books or knick knacks.