Red Oak is one of the most abundant of our domestic hardwoods. Its moderate cost, strength, wearability, and appealing grain characteristics make its use widespread. It is open-grained and in its plain sawn or sliced form expresses a strong "Cathedral" type grain pattern. The heartwood is reddish tan to brown in color and minimal in volume making its elimination by selective cutting very easy. Red Oak is also available in rift sawn or sliced from which produces a very uniform straight grained effect. Less frequently it is quarter-sawn or sliced, still producing a straight grain but with the "flake" of medullar ray accented. Some sacrifice in width and length availability occurs when producing either rift or quarter sawn lumber.