What color is oak?
Oak is primarily a light-colored wood. Red oak is actually lighter in tone than white oak.
White oak heartwood (the wood in the center of the log) is light to medium brown, with some medium, dark brown and tan mixed in, and a small amount of yellow mixed in. Red oak’s heartwood and sapwood range in color from white to light brown. (the wood located on the outer ring of the log) has a pinkish tint.
What does the grain of oak look like?
Oak grain patterns are one of the straightest, free-flowing grain patterns you can find. Oak makes no apologies for its prominent grain pattern, a factor that makes oak easier to identify. On a piece of oak furniture, you’ll find long curved arches and rings compressed into thin parallel lines in certain areas. The texture is deep and rugged. Oak will have some knots that add to its character and texture to the wood.
How does oak compare to other woods?
Oak for furniture scores highly in terms of strength. The Janka hardness test is a reliable way to measure the strength of wood. This test is considered the industry standard for comparing the relative hardness of different wood species. The Janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a small 0.444-inch (11.28 mm) steel ball into a piece of wood, reducing its diameter by half. This test reveals the wood’s ability to handle wear or dents. The higher the numerical score, the harder the wood is.
White oak has a Janka grade of 1360, while red oak has a grade of 1290. Oak is harder than most woods used to make furniture. By comparison, cherry wood has a Janka rating of 950 and walnut has a Janka rating of 1010. Oak is a strong and durable furniture choice. Its strength and hardness make it ideal for furniture that is used daily.
Is it better to use stain or paint for oak furniture?
Oak furniture shows off stains well and can be painted in a variety of stain colors. Stained oak furniture can add a beautiful look to any room. One of the reasons our Amish woodworkers love working with oak is that it resists stains very well. However, paint is not very kind to oak. Maybe it’s not the paint that’s unfriendly, but the oak’s vibrant wood grain. The rough grain and prominent grain of the oak will continue to be apparent under the paint.
What is oak used for?
Of course, oak is popular for wooden furniture, especially furniture that needs to withstand heavy use. Oak is also used for cabinets and flooring due to its durability and functionality, and is popular on boats because it is somewhat resistant to rot. You may find oak used in interior decoration as well.
How does oak cost compared to other hardwoods?
Oak is one of the two cheapest woods used for furniture, which adds to its appeal. White oak costs a little more than red oak, has higher rot resistance and is harder and more stable than red oak.
How does oak compare to cherry?
Oak and cherry are both ideal choices for solid wood furniture. They are both hardwoods, but cherry is a softer hardwood. While you want to take special care of all solid wood furniture, cherry wood has a more “handle with care” nature than oak. Oak has a Janka rating of up to 1360, while cherry has a rating of 950.
Oak and cherry are polar opposites when it comes to wood grain patterns. The wood grain of oak can be said to be everywhere and never shy, while the wood grain of cherry wood is delicate, straight, simple and smooth. Cherry wood has an overall smooth grain with some occasional pith spots (brown streaks caused by insect tracks), pockets of gum, and mineral deposits.
Both are good woods for making wooden furniture. Cherry wood color differs from oak in that cherry wood color includes shades from golden to reddish brown, while oak includes more browns and tans. Cherry wood also has the unique property of darkening over time when exposed to light. Cherry wood is more expensive than oak. Cherry is in high demand but not as readily available as oak, which drives up costs.
