Red oak is the most valuable species of all the oaks. It is a heavy and strong wood, generally used for interiors such as flooring, furniture, boxes, and veneers. The color is a light to medium brown with a reddish tone that gives it its name (as opposed to White Oak).  The wood grain is straight with an uneven, course texture. Red Oak is easy to work with with both hand and machine tools.  It is important to note that due to the tannic acid in Red Oak, it can stain when combined with iron, particularly if wet.