Lumber is Quarter
sawn for two main reasons. The first and probably most important
to all woodworkers is the stability
of the lumber that they are working with. By looking at
the properties of each specie of lumber, notice the amount
of tangential and radial shrinkage each has.These numbers
tell you how much that specie moves in thickness and width
with changes in moisture content as the wood
dries. A long time ago, woodworkers discovered that green
cut lumber that was processed from logs where the annual
rings of the log ran perpendicular to the face of the lumber
produced material that did not expand and contract as much
with changes in moisture content. This lumber was produced
first by cutting the log into half, and then the halves
into quarters. After being cut into quarters, each quarter
section is placed on the mill in a position so that the
annual rings are as close to 90 degrees (perpendicular)
to the face of each board as possible when sawn from each
quarter section. The sawn lumber has tight, straight, parallel
grain lines running the length of the board. The resulting
lumbers' properties are to shrink more in the thickness of
the piece and less in the width of the piece. The end result
is lumber that moves less across the width of the piece and
is more stable. In a plain sawn piece
of lumber the opposite is true due to the parallel orientation
of the annual rings to the face of the piece. (Please refer
to the Quarter sawing diagram)
The second reason for quarter sawing lumber is the resulting
appearance of the lumber produced. In all species the grain
of the lumber is tight, straight and parallel. This is
different than that of lumber that is plain sawn. In certain
species such as Oak and Sycamore the face of the quarter
sawn lumber will display a prominent ray fleck on the face
of the lumber. These rays are part of the cell structure
of the growing tree that radiate outward from the pith
of the log to the sapwood. When the log is sawn with the
annual rings perpendicular these rays are bisected and
show up on the face of each piece of quarter sawn lumber
as a shiny band. These bands vary in width from specie
to specie and also from tree to tree. When sawn, each log
reveals its own unique figured pattern of ray flecks on
each sawn piece of lumber. This is only visible in those
species that have these rays in the cellular structure.
Lumber that exhibits these ray flecks, or in species that
do not have rays in the cellular structure where the annual
rings are between 60 to 90 degrees to the face of the lumber
are called quarter sawn. Both quarter sawing and plane
sawing, depending upon the orientation of the annual rings
to the face of each piece of lumber, will yield some rift
sawn lumber. Rift sawn lumber has a straighter grain pattern
much like the quarter sawn, but will not exhibit the ray
flecks in those species that have rays. The annual rings
of the lumber will be at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees
to the face of the piece.
Most production mills do not quarter saw due to the increased
time that it takes to quarter the log and the decreased
lumber volume that will be produced from each log. To produce
high quality quarter sawn lumber the mill first needs to
start with a large log that when quartered will produce
lumber of good width. This usually starts with a log that
is at least 20" and larger in diameter on the small
end and straight. Another consideration is the tightness
of the growth rings of the log. A slow growing tree with
many rings to the inch will yield lumber that is much easier
to machine and work than that of a fast growing tree with
a small number of growth rings to the inch. Quarter sawn
lumber also takes greater care in drying due to the fact
that the cells in this orientation give up their moisture
slower than that of lumber that is plain sawn. All of these
factors combined together raise the cost of the end product.
Those woodworkers that have used good quality quarter sawn
lumber would tell you that it is definitely worth the additional
cost. There is a greater volume of 4/4 quarter sawn lumber
available than that of 5/4 and thicker. In the Oaks the
quarter sawn thick stock can be a kiln operators nightmare
to dry without drying defects. That is why much less thicker
stock is available, and when it is it commands a premium
price. There are a select few producers that will "walk
the kiln drying tight hope" to dry thick quarter sawn
stock or tie up the inventory on the air dry yard for a
long time.
For those that manufacture Mission Style furniture, quarter
sawn White Oak is the specie of choice. This style of furniture
making was popularized by the designs of Gustav Stickley.
Today quarter sawn lumber has seen somewhat of a rebirth
in its use. It is still used in furniture, but has also
been used in flooring applications for the stability of
the lumber. It is a good choice to use quarter sawn lumber
for flooring in an application where the flooring is installed
over radiant heating. The quarter sawn lumber will react
less to the changes in temperature and humidity of the
room when installed over the radiant heat system. Quarter
sawn lumber is also specked out for architectural millwork
applications for its stability and appearance. It is also
used for high end cabinetry and musical instruments. Lumber
is Quarter sawn for two main reasons. The first and probably
most important to all woodworkers is the stability of the
lumber that they are working with. By looking at the properties
of each specie of lumber, notice the amount of tangential
and radial shrinkage each has.
These numbers tell you how much that specie moves in thickness
and width with changes in moisture content as the wood
dries. A long time ago, woodworkers discovered that green
cut lumber that was processed from logs where the annual
rings of the log ran perpendicular to the face of the lumber
produced material that did not expand and contract as much
with changes in moisture content. This lumber was produced
first by cutting the log into half, and then the halves
into quarters. After being cut into quarters, each quarter
section is placed on the mill in a position so that the
annual rings are as close to 90 degrees (perpendicular)
to the face of each board as possible when sawn from each
quarter section.
The sawn lumber has tight, straight, parallel grain lines
running the
length of the board. The resulting lumbers' properties
are to shrink
more in the thickness of the piece and less in the width
of the piece.
The end result is lumber that moves less across the width
of the piece and is more stable. In a plain sawn piece
of lumber the opposite is true due to the parallel orientation
of the annual rings to the face of the piece. (Please refer
to the Quarter sawing diagram)
The second reason for quarter sawing lumber is the resulting
appearance of the lumber produced. In all species the grain
of the lumber is tight, straight and parallel. This is
different than that of lumber that is plain sawn. In certain
species such as Oak and Sycamore the face of the quarter
sawn lumber will display a prominent ray fleck on the face
of the lumber. These rays are part of the cell structure
of the growing tree that radiate outward from the pith
of the log to the sapwood. When the log is sawn with the
annual rings perpendicular these rays are bisected and
show up on the face of each piece of quarter sawn lumber
as a shiny band. These bands vary in width from specie
to specie and also from tree to tree. When sawn, each log
reveals its own unique figured pattern of ray flecks on
each sawn piece of lumber. This is only visible in those
species that have these rays in the cellular structure.
Lumber that exhibits these ray flecks, or in species that
do not have rays in the cellular structure where the annual
rings are between 60 to 90 degrees to the face of the lumber
are called quarter sawn. Both quarter sawing and plane
sawing, depending upon the orientation of the annual rings
to the face of each piece of lumber, will yield some rift
sawn lumber. Rift sawn lumber has a straighter grain pattern
much like the quarter sawn, but will not exhibit the ray
flecks in those species that have rays. The annual rings
of the lumber will be at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees
to the face of the piece.
Most production mills do not quarter saw due to the increased
time that it takes to quarter the log and the decreased
lumber volume that will be produced from each log. To produce
high quality quarter sawn lumber the mill first needs to
start with a large log that when quartered will produce
lumber of good width. This usually starts with a log that
is at least 20" and larger in diameter on the small
end and straight. Another consideration is the tightness
of the growth rings of the log. A slow growing tree with
many rings to the inch will yield lumber that is much easier
to machine and work than that of a fast growing tree with
a small number of growth rings to the inch. Quarter sawn
lumber also takes greater care in drying due to the fact
that the cells in this orientation give up their moisture
slower than that of lumber that is plain sawn. All of these
factors combined together raise the cost of the end product.
Those woodworkers that have used good quality quarter sawn
lumber would tell you that it is definitely worth the additional
cost. There is a greater volume of 4/4 quarter sawn lumber
available than that of 5/4 and thicker. In the Oaks the
quarter sawn thick stock can be a kiln operators nightmare
to dry without drying defects. That is why much less thicker
stock is available, and when it is it commands a premium
price. There are a select few producers that will "walk
the kiln drying tight hope" to dry thick quarter sawn
stock or tie up the inventory on the air dry yard for a
long time.
For those that manufacture Mission Style furniture, quarter
sawn White Oak is the specie of choice. This style of furniture
making was popularized by the designs of Gustav Stickley.
Today quarter sawn lumber has seen somewhat of a rebirth
in its use. It is still used in furniture, but has also
been used in flooring applications for the stability of
the lumber. It is a good choice to use quarter sawn lumber
for flooring in an application where the flooring is installed
over radiant heating. The quarter sawn lumber will react
less to the changes in temperature and humidity of the
room when installed over the radiant heat system. Quarter
sawn lumber is also specked out for architectural millwork
applications for its stability and appearance. It is also
used for high end cabinetry and musical instruments. |
