Dried Red Oak wood plank, planed and squared. Manually selected.

Red oak wood is similar to white oak in many aspects, texture, grain, smell, density and ease of work. It is lighter and more yellowish in tone than white oak, and often has a slight reddish cast. It also presents a soft marbled similar to beech or oak wood.

The name of the red oak is not due to the color of the wood but to the leaves of the tree, as in the case of the white oak the name does not reflect the color of the wood but is due to the color of the bark .

The main difference from white oak is that it lacks the resistance to insects and moisture that white oak does, and therefore it is not recommended for outdoor use. In return, it is more common and cheaper, and on many occasions the difference in color and grain can make it more attractive for making furniture and small projects.