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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.
Is quarter sawn oak worth it?
Is Quarter Sawn Hardwood Worth It? The principal benefit of the quarter-sawing technique is that all of the grain will be straight, resulting in a more dimensionally stable product. Flecks are generally evident in quarter sawn red oak and white oak, but can also be seen in other species.
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.
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.
How can you tell if a wood is quarter sawn?
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.
Why is quarter sawn 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.
Is tiger oak and quarter sawn oak the same?
According to Hunker, tiger oak is lumber made through a specific method of milling called quarter sawing that results in distinctive grain lumber used in high-end applications. However, quarter sawn oak strictly refers to tiger oak. The difference in plain sawing and quarter sawing is the angle used.
What are the disadvantages of quarter sawn lumber?
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.
What are the pros and cons of quarter sawn timber?
Quarter-Sawn Lumber produces much less usable lumber than Plain-Sawn lumber, making it more expensive. It is often still sought after becuase it is more stable. It is less likely to cup or twist and there are fewer surface checks and splits. It also wears more evenley.
Why is quarter sawn better than plain sawn?
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.
Why is it called quarter sawn oak?
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.
When was quarter sawn oak popular?
Quarter sawn oak became increasingly popular in the early 20th century as the wood of choice for arts and crafts style pieces.
What is Tiger oak?
The fancy horizontal grain on the headboard and footboard is often referred to as tiger oak. It is quarter sawn oak veneer that reveals the medullary growth rings of the wood. From the last quarter of the 19th century into the 1920s it was quite popular and widely produced by numerous manufacturers throughout America.
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.
How much more is quarter sawn oak?
For low/medium fleck quarter sawn you can expect to pay between $4.08 to $24.20 per board foot based on 8” to 16” widths. For higher fleck quarter sawn it is approximately $4.58 to $27.20 based on the same widths. Use your square footage measurements to calculate how much the planks will cost you in total.
How is quarter sawn white oak made?
Quarter sawn oak wood is born with a specific cutting method. Oak lumber is turned or rotated after each cut, and the growth rings intersect the face of the board at a 90 degree angle. The log is cut in quarters, then each quarter is turned and cut again. This is repeated until the right board size is reached.
How is Tiger oak made?
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.
What is rift oak?
Rift Sawn White Oak lumber has straight tight grain with heartwood that is a light to medium brown and commonly with an olive cast. Similar to quarter sawn lumber, rift sawn white oak lumber is also referred to as radial grain. This cut produces the most stable boards. It is also the most wasteful to produce.
