Color: At first, red-brown or purple-brown with light yellow-brown or purple streaks; after exposure, uniform light brown or yellow-brown.
Grain: Fine texture, interlocked, waxy or oily feel.
Species & Grade Variations: Dramatic shading that mellows as the floor matures.
Hardness (Janka): 3540 (174% harder than Northern red oak).
Dimensional Stability: Average (7.6; 12% more stable than red oak).
Sawing/Machining: Works well, but is very hard—use carbide blades and bits.
Sanding: Difficult. Scratches are easily seen—each sanding must carefully remove the scratches from the previous cut, or sanding marks will be visible in the finish.
Suggested Sequence:
- First Cut: 50 at a 7-15 degree angle with the grain
- Second Cut: 60 or 80 straight with the grain
- Third Cut: 100
- Hard Plate: 100
- First Screen: 80
- Second Screen: 100 or 120
Nailing: Pre-drilling and hand-nailing are preferred.
Finishing: Test all products before using them on the actual job site. Oil-modified finishes may not dry when applied over this wood if standard procedures are followed. Moisture-cure urethane, conversion varnish and waterborne finishes are generally more successful with this species.
Comments: Has been known to cause contact dermatitis.
Moderately available.


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