Where do I
start with Oak, because there are different varieties used for stair
treads, furniture and interior wood trim. I've been using Oak for years,
to make cabinets, furniture and parts for stairs. It is an excellent
hardwood and I can't think of one thing I wouldn't recommend using it
for.
Since Oak comes in different varieties, it also comes
in different colors, but the grain designs usually looks similar. Here's
the good news, since most of the oak is grown, cut and milled into
lumber, in the United States, it's relatively one of the cheaper
hardwoods. That was one of the main reasons why I used it, as much as I
did. There was a lumber yard by my house that used to sell it for under
three dollars a square foot.
Gluing = Excellent, I've never had a problem with gluing Oak and one
time I even tried to break a few joints in half, but ended up splitting
one of the boards, instead. The glue joints never even separated and I
didn't use any wood dowels or biscuits.
Sanding = Good, since it is a hardwoods, it's hard to sand, but well
worth the effort. Try to avoid over sanding, otherwise you could create
a wavy surface. The grains of the wood are usually harder than the areas
in between them and could create problems, with your finish.
Staining = Great, this was one of my favorites woods to work with and it
can be stained in a variety of different colors.
Nailing = Difficult, the harder woods are simply harder to nail and
almost impossible to screw through, without pre-drilling holes for your
nails or screws.
Wear And Tear = Excellent, oak is one of the more popular woods used by
stair builders and finish carpenters. Since it's one of the harder
hardwoods, it will usually last a little on for than the softer ones.
