Red Oak is a strong hardwood with a long, linear grain, often displaying tiny rays. Red Oak, at times, has small pinholes and tight knots. Red Oak coloration can range from a golden blond to deeper tones. Red Oak is flat sawn, and shows a different grain pattern than Quarter Sawn. Red Oak is a common choice for opaque finishes, including our Ultimo Tinted Varnishes. When Tinted Varnish is applied to Red Oak, the figure of the grain will “show through” the finish in both appearance and in the texture of the material when touched.