HOW Does Rift Sawn White Oak Differ From Quater Sawn
There are three ways in which lumber is typically cut from logs: quarter sawn, rift sawn, or plain sawn. Each type of way that the lumber is cut depends on how the log is oriented and cut at the sawmill. The result is a particular orientation of the growth rings on the end grain of the board and ultimately defines the type of lumber produced. The type of cut will also determine the figure in a piece of wood and the wood’s mechanical properties. That is why it’s essential to be informed regarding the type of cut the lumber is when it comes to your hardwood flooring. Read on to learn more about how different cuts, such as rift sawn white oak would differ from quarter sawn. If you are contemplating getting hardwood for your floor, Nature Wood Floors is a top hardwood floor store that ships all over the United States. We have unfinished and prefinished hardwood suitable for your needs. Call Nature Wood Floors today to learn more!
Differences Between Different Cuts of Lumber
There are three main ways that lumber is cut, and here are a few of them:
Plain Sawn/Flat Sawn
This is the most common cut type. Plain sawn, also referred to as flat sawn, is the least expensive way to manufacture logs into lumber. Generally speaking, plain sawn lumber has annular rings approximately 30 degrees or less from the face of the board and is referred to as having tangential grain.
The resulting wood displays a cathedral pattern on the face of the board.
Quarter Sawn
Quarter sawn wood provides an amazing straight grain pattern that lends itself to design. However, Nature Wood Floors provides a variety of quarter sawn, plain sawn, and rift sawn wood flooring. 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 this lumber is being cut at the sawmill, each log is sawed at a radial angle to four quarters, which is where they get the name. Dramatic flecking is also present in the red and white oak we offer.
Rift Sawn
Rift sawn wood is the most expensive and least common type of cut. However, this type of woodcut can be manufactured to complement quarter sawn lumber, or logs can be cut precisely as rift sawn.
Furthermore, the annual rings in rift sawn lumber are typically between 30 to 60 degrees, with 45 degrees being optimum. It is manufactured by milling perpendicular to the log’s growth rings, resulting in a linear grain pattern with no flecking. This method causes the most waste wood, which is why the cost of this lumber is so high. Rift sawn lumber is extremely dimensionally stable and has a unique linear appearance.
