Rift sawing
Encyclopedia
Rift sawing is a technique of cutting boards from logs. Each board is cut along a radius of the original log, so that the saw cuts at right angles to the tree's growth ring. This produces lumber of great stability. However, since this produces a great deal of waste (in the form of wedge-shaped scraps from between the boards) rift-sawing is much less-commonly used than flat sawing and quarter sawing
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Flat sawing produces the least waste, but produces boards which are more susceptible to warping and shrinkage, and which have a distinctive grain which may be esthetically undesirable for some uses. Quarter sawing
produces more waste than flat sawing, but has a straighter grain, which in addition to being visually pleasing, makes the lumber more stable. Quartersawn wood is seen as an acceptable compromise between economical but less-stable flatsawn wood (which, especially in oak, will often display the distinct "cathedral window" grain) and the expensively-wasteful riftsawn wood, which has the straightest grain and thus the greatest stability.
Quarter Sawing
"History of Quarter Sawn Wood"Henry W. Maley is known as the Father of Quarter Sawed Oak. He was the owner of an Edinburgh, Indiana saw mill. In 1881, he accidentally discovered the method of sawing, while filling an order for a cabinet maker. He turned the large log, cutting it on the bias to get...
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Flat sawing produces the least waste, but produces boards which are more susceptible to warping and shrinkage, and which have a distinctive grain which may be esthetically undesirable for some uses. Quarter sawing
Quarter Sawing
"History of Quarter Sawn Wood"Henry W. Maley is known as the Father of Quarter Sawed Oak. He was the owner of an Edinburgh, Indiana saw mill. In 1881, he accidentally discovered the method of sawing, while filling an order for a cabinet maker. He turned the large log, cutting it on the bias to get...
produces more waste than flat sawing, but has a straighter grain, which in addition to being visually pleasing, makes the lumber more stable. Quartersawn wood is seen as an acceptable compromise between economical but less-stable flatsawn wood (which, especially in oak, will often display the distinct "cathedral window" grain) and the expensively-wasteful riftsawn wood, which has the straightest grain and thus the greatest stability.