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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Quercus arkansana Trade Name Arkansas oak Family Name Fagaceae Common Names Arkansas oak, Arkansas water oak, Water oak Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Caskets, Crossties, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Mine timbers, Posts Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rather secure, with little or no threat to its population within its natural growth range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Arkansas oakoccurs in a scattered fashion among other oaks within localized areas of 5 south eastern states in the United States. The natural growth range extends from southwest Georgia and northwest Florida west to Louisiana, with the largest concentration in southwest Arkansas. It prefers well-drained sandy soils and is usually found growing with other hardwoods at elevations of up to 400 feet (107 m). It is believed to be an ancient species which had a wider distribution in the Coastal Plains. The name is derived from the state where it was first discovered in 1911. Heartwood Color Black Brown Yellow White Pink Tinged with red Brown Arkansas oak is difficult to differentiate from other Red oaks after it is milled Sapwood Color White Brown Red Whitish Average thickness of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) Grain Figure Even Interlocked Straight Texture Medium Luster Arkansas oak has the same or very similar characteristics as all the other American red oaks Natural Durability Perishable Very durable Heartwood has little or no natural resistance to decay Should be protected with chemical preservative if it is to used under decay hazard conditions Odor Has an odor Drying Defects Checking Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Ring Shakes Discoloration Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult End coating is recommended to prevent excessive checking Difficult Since shrinkage tends to be above average piles should be weighted down during air-seasoning to prevent degrade, especially in members in the upper layers. Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Has a tall trunk and narrow crown Product Sources Although the primary sources of commercial American red oak are northern red oak (Q. rubra) and southern red oak (Q. falcata), various species in the red oak class are mixed and marketed together without distinction. Supplies of red oak are plentiful, and the species is one of the most commonly available domestic hardwoods. Oak in general, and particularly red oak, dominates as the most popular timber for furniture, followed by cherry, pine, mahogany, ash, pecan, hard maple, and walnut. Red oak is also a popular export to other countries, and is one of the most popular American oaks used in Europe. Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Like other Red oaks, Arkansas oak has been the choice for applications where beauty and strength are requirements. The wood responds well to various tools, and although it is hard, it works easily if tools are kept sharp Resistance to Abrasion High Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Open grain allows great flexibilty in the selection of finishes for red oaks. A darker stain preceded by a light filler is reported to produce the popular 'lime' appearance. The wood can also be treated with ammonia to produce an almost black 'Jacobean' finish because of the high tannin content. Ray pattern on quarter-sawn boards can also yield a truly unique look. Tip: To avoid conspicuous differences in stained, edge-glued members, separate quarter-sawn and flat-sawn boards and use one consistently for a given project Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.53 Item Green Dry Metric References Flynn Jr., J.H. 1993. Quercus arkansana - Arkansas oak. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 304-305. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published Alfred A. Knopf, New York. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.