QA

Question: How To Identify Quarter Sawn Wood

A board with growth rings running roughly parallel—usually in arches—relative to the face of the board is called a plain-sawn (or flat-sawn) board. If the growth rings are at a steep angle relative to the face, the board is said to have quartersawn grain.

How can you tell if oak is quarter sawn?

Quarter sawn lumber is defined as wood where the annular growth rings intersect the face of the board at a 60 to 90 degree angle. When cutting this lumber at the sawmill, each log is sawed at a radial angle into four quarters, hence the name. Dramatic flecking is also present in red oak and white oak.

What are three characteristics of quarter sawn wood?

In addition to the desirable grain pattern this type of wood is some of the most dimensionally stable, making it ideal to work with. Quarter sawn lumber exhibits almost no twisting, warping and cupping. It is more resistant to moisture penetration and less prone to surface checking and raised grain.

What are the features between quarter sawn and flat-sawn?

Since this type of cut involves more labor and produces more waste, the cost is higher than plain sawn lumber. Due to the position of the growth rings in the cut, Quarter Sawn lumber is more dimensionally stable than Plain Sawn. It resists expansion and contraction on plank’s width.

Is quarter sawn wood better?

Quarter-sawn wood is more stable than plain-sawn. Not only is it less prone to cupping, it also expands and contracts less. Quarter-sawn provides a “quieter” and straighter face grain than plain-sawn.

What are the disadvantages of quarter sawing?

How To Quarter Saw Lumber Advantages of Quartersawn Lumber Disadvantages of Quartersawn Lumber More stable in an environment with varying humidity Shrinks twice as much in thickness vs. flatsawn lumber Wears more evenly when used as flooring Has spike knots compared to circular knots which reduce strength.

Why is quarter sawn oak so expensive?

Quarter sawn wood is more expensive because it is more labor intensive to produce and the manufacturing process produces more waste than plain sawn lumber. At the sawmill, each log is sawed at a radial angle into four quarters, hence the name, then each quarter is plain sawn.

What is Quarter oak?

Quarter Sawn White Oak is the same species as White Oak but the wood has been cut from the log at a different angle (quartered). It is more stable than standard (flat sawn) White Oak and has a finer texture with a dramatic flaking pattern that runs perpendicular to the grain.

Is Tiger oak the same as quarter sawn oak?

Tiger oak is lumber produced by a particular milling process called quarter sawing. The process results in lumber with a distinctive grain that is often used in high-end applications in which the appearance of the wood is an important consideration.

Why is it called quarter sawn?

Quarter sawing gets its name from the fact that the log is first quartered lengthwise, resulting in wedges with a right angle ending at approximately the center of the original log. Each quarter is then cut separately by tipping it up on its point and sawing boards successively along the axis.

What does quarter sawn maple look like?

When maple is quarter-cut the figure appears as vertical flame lines. The same appears in Koa wood. However, the same figure appears curly when viewed on plain-sawn grain. In truth, the same vertical flame lines appear when quartersawn or plain-sawn.

What is the strongest cut of wood?

RIFT SAWN ADVANTAGES Produces the strongest possible boards with the most consistent visual look of long and straight grain patterns. Generally the choice of cut for fine furniture makers looking for consistent patterns throughout their design.

What is another name for quarter sawn lumber?

Quarter sawing or quartersawing is a woodworking process that produces quarter sawn or quarter-cut boards in the rip cutting of logs into lumber. The resulting lumber can also be called radially-sawn or simply quartered.

What is the advantage of quarter sawn lumber?

Some advantages of quartersawn lumber: Shrinks and swells less in width. Cups, surface-checks, and splits less in seasoning and in use. Raised grain caused by separation in annual rings does not become as pronounced.

Why have a quarter sawn neck?

Quartersawn wood is less susceptible to wear, shrinking, swelling in width, twisting, warping and splitting. It also provides a better paint surface—all highly desirable qualities in a guitar neck.

Is quarter sawn oak more expensive?

While quarter sawn oak is more expensive than plain sawn, the value it provides in terms of structural integrity and beauty make it the obvious choice for anyone looking for a quality piece.

Which hardwoods are the most stable?

The degree to which this occurs for a particular species of wood is known as “species dimensional stability.” Red Oak, White Oak, and Ash are examples of woods with high stability. Maple, Hickory, and Cumaru are examples of less-stable species.

What are the disadvantages of sawing?

Another downside to cold saws is that the hardness makes the saw blades brittle and subject to shock. Any amount of vibration — for example, from insufficient clamping of the part or the wrong feed rate — can easily damage the saw teeth.

What are the advantages of live sawing?

What are the Benefits of Live Sawn Flooring? Live sawn floors literally last a lifetime. These floors are natural and more environmentally friendly. There are no gaps between the planks, meaning that dirt and allergens cannot find a place to hide.

What is tangential sawing?

Tangential Sawing : The board & planks are sawn out of wood tangentially to the annual rings. Economical due to less wastage &involves less Labor do not suit for heavy works as for flooring. It produces timer with end grains which are sometimes known as “Silver Grains” by sawing parallel to the medullary rays.