Usable? 50 yr old 12" 4/4 reclaimed red oak

If they’re stable, I’m sure you could use them for lots of things. It doesn’t really look like red oak to me in that pic….can you take a couple of others that show more of the board and grain?

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Doesn’t look like oak to me (MHO) Whatever they are if they are in good shape you have some great lumber.
Build something nice out of them.

-- Don't rollerskate in a buffalo herd

They should work fine for about any project.

-- Wood-Mizer LT15

From that one pic it looks more like cherry than oak. Either way they’ll be fine for any project. they’re not going to be “too” dry. If you have a metal detector, check for any hidden nails.

-- He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.

Let them stabilize where you’re going to use them, I would think.

Please, you “wood whisperers” correct me if I’m wrong (I’m no expert), but I was taught wood will draw in moisture just as easily as it will expel it. That’s why wood stabilized and used in the high desert can have issues if you bring it to a beach house. Right? Wrong?

Depending on finish or lack thereof, all wood will attempt to allow moisture to move in and out to equalize with the environment.
The rule of thumb I was taught, the denser the wood, the more lateral (width wise) movement.
Always good to allow wood to stabilize in the area of use. After “climatized”, mill to rough size and watch for movement for a week or two before final milling and assembly.

-- Sawdust and shavings are therapeutic

From the picture, I’m thinking cherry also. I would think that they would be fine for just about anything.

-- Bondo Gaposis

Wood is good…. please don’t thow those babies away….

-- Matt, Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!

The majority of what i use is reclaimed lumber. It can be a pain in the neck to dimesion it but like you got yours it usually FREE. Use it ! At very worst its good stuff for shop cabinets and shelving.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

That aint oak. I would say cherry. I got some 100 year old oak out of a hotel that was tour down.It is great to work with.
Chuck

-- Chuck, wiswood2 www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

definitely get a metal detector – the Rockler Little Wizard is only about $20, and works fine.