red oak

red oak	red oak end grain

Red oak is what most people mean when they say "oak", although white oak is preferred for some specialty uses, usually involving prolonged contact with water. This is a commoin furniture wood, although most wodworkers consider it a bit course for really fine work. It's a very pleasant wood to work, machining cleanly, yet soft enough to work by hand. I don't really use it in jewelry boxes, except for some squares in amish quilt tops, but it's distinctive end grain makes a wonderful border for Amish Quilt cutting boards, and I also use it in Rail Fence and Weathervane cutting boards.