The Mighty Oaks
Red, white and live make a versatile trio
Synopsis: Oak’s role in the modern world may be somewhat less romantic than in years past, writes Jon Arno, but it has not diminished. It remains our most-used hardwood for interior trim, cabinets, flooring, furniture, and heavy construction applications. Arno examines the diversity of the timbers lumped together botanically as oak and he explores the primary factors that make oak so popular: its abundance and its utility. He offers tips on which oak to use when, breaking it down among its white, red, and live categories. And he offers side information on the benefits and drawbacks of tannin.
Our senses tell us it is nothing more than a coarse-textured wood with showy rays and a harsh acidic scent. Yet there’s something about oak that causes most of us to think of it in human terms: bold, strong and dependable. There can be little doubt why.
These trees, their…
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