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what is plain sawn wood

by Eden Champlin II Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Plain sawn lumber is also commonly referred to as “flat sawn”. This is the most common and widely used method of sawing. Plain sawn lumber is produced by making the first cut on a tangent to the circumference of the log. Each additional cut is then made parallel to one before.

Is quarter sawn wood stronger?

Quarter sawn (quartersawn) wood or lumber uses a particular method to mill trees. It yields highly usable, very strong boards with a lot less waste than plain-sawn or rift-sawn lumber. Quartersawn wood is particularly popular for oak and maple .

What does sawn mean?

What does sawn mean in wood? This method is the simplest way to cut rectangular-profiled boards out of a round log. In plain sawing, the wood is sawn tangentially to the annual growth rings so that the rings form an angle of less than 45° in relation to the board surface. On a wood floor, this cut is easily recognizable by its cathedral arches.

What is rough cut lumber used for?

rough cut lumber can be used for outdoor furnitures; It can also be used in making swinging benches and benches itself, building of small bridges outside your home. but it needs to be treated with Finish and varnish seals to help protect from water and weather.

What are the different cuts of lumber?

Wood Lumber Cuts

  • Plain Sawn Lumber. Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut. ...
  • Quarter Sawn Lumber. The annular rings of a quarter sawn board are about 60-90 degrees to the face of the board; this is often referred to as radial grain.
  • Rift Sawn Lumber. ...
  • A Note About Our Diagrams and Cutting Methods. ...

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What does sawn wood mean?

Sawn wood means wood simply sawn lengthwise or produced by a profile-chipping process. Sawn wood normally exceeds 6 mm in thickness.

What is plain sawn lumber used for?

Plain Sawn lumber is the most common cut of lumber used in hardwood flooring. By making parallel cuts through the log, a wider plank is produced. The annular growth rings are typically 30 degrees or less to the face of the board, which gives the plank the recognizable “cathedral” grain.

What is the difference between quarter sawn wood and plain sawn wood?

Quarter sawn wood is more dimensionally stable than plain sawn lumber. More physical labor and time are required to make a piece of lumber, or flooring plank quarter sawn. By cutting a log into four quarters, then plain sawing each quarter, you end up with lumber that naturally resists cupping.

What does plain wood mean?

Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut. The annular rings are generally 30 degrees or less to the face of the board; this is often referred to as tangential grain. The resulting wood displays a cathedral pattern on the face of the board.

Which cut of wood is the strongest?

Top 10 Hardest Woods in The WorldSchinopsis brasiliensis – 4,800 IBF. ... Schinopsis balansae – 4,570 IBF. ... Lignum vitae – 4,500 IBF. ... Piptadenia Macrocarpa – 3,840 IBF. ... Brazilian Olivewood – 3,700 IBF. ... Brazilian Ebony – 3,692 IBF. ... Brazilian Walnut – 3,684 IBF. ... African Pearwood – 3,680 IBF.More items...

What is another name for plain sawing?

Plain sawn, also commonly called flat sawn, is the most common lumber you will find. This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber. Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut.

What are the disadvantages of plain sawing?

Despite the attractive look on the surface, there are certain drawbacks to plain sawn lumber. As the wood dries and ages, the tension of the tangential grain can make plain sawn planks cup, twist and sometimes bow. They also tend to absorb more moisture from the air which can also lead to unwanted movement.

How can you tell if wood is Quartersawn?

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.

Is quarter sawn wood more 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 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.

Does unfinished wood need to be sanded?

Most unfinished pieces need additional fine sanding before finishing to avoid surface fuzz or roughness that will show when the stain is applied.

Does unfinished wood need to be finished?

Unfinished wood furniture means the piece of furniture has been put together by craftsman, but still needs a finish (such as stain or varnish) to be applied.

What is live sawn used for?

Live sawn is a technique of slicing the logs through directly without having to turn the log. If you are looking for the most efficient way of sawing lumber, look no further than live sawn. It works by using the whole log and gives distinctive grain that integrates and uses all parts of the log.

What are the advantages of quarter sawn lumber?

Quarter SawnSmoother surface due to less distinct grain.Decreased expansion and contraction on the plank's width.Twisting, cupping, and warping resistance.Ages evenly over time.Chances of surface checking are significantly reduced.More resistant to moisture penetration.Enhanced paint retention.

What is quarter sawn lumber sometimes called?

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 boards are more likely to bow?

Flat–sawn boards, particularly those exhibiting cathedral–shaped grain patterns on the face are more likely to develop a "bow." This is particularly prevalent when the board is taken from sections of the tree where the size is transitioning rapidly (this happens quite often in younger, shorter trees).

What is rip sawn wood?

Plain-sawn or rip-sawn wood uses a particular method of milling trees that yields highly usable, strong boards. It delivers the least amount of waste of any milling method. Unlike quarter sawn wood, particularly popular for oak and maple, plain-sawn wood presents less exposed grain on the face of the board.

How Do You Get Plain-sawn Wood from a Tree?

In a word: easily. The plain-sawn method feeds the tree through a saw, “planing” off each board in sheets for lumber material. It is not unusual to get some combination of 4×4, 2×6, 2×4, and 2×2 material from a single tree.

Why do you rip sawn lumber?

Because the grain is not as important in plain-sawn lumber, using the rip-sawn method is a sure way to get the most boards out of a tree. It generates inexpensive lumber stock perfect for construction and basic furniture.

What is the most efficient method of sawmilling?

As the most efficient sawmilling method, it utilizes almost every square inch of a tree to make usable boards. Also, since this type of cut generates the most amount of wood, it also yields lower-priced boards.

Does rip sawn wood expand?

Expansion and Contraction. It’s important to understand how plain-sawn or rip-sawn wood will expand and contract with moisture and humidity. All wood will have some movement, but the most traditional style of millwork leaves you the most exposed to this phenomenon. Unlike the more hardy quartersawn and rift-sawn lumber, ...

What are the drawbacks of plain sawn lumber?from advantagelumber.com

As the wood dries and ages, the tension of the tangential grain can make plain sawn planks cup, twist and sometimes bow. They also tend to absorb more moisture from the air which can also lead to unwanted movement.

Why do mills sell flat sawn lumber?from advantagelumber.com

Most mills sell plain sawn (aka flat sawn) lumber because it’s the simplest, most cost-efficient way to mill a log into planks. Cutting parallel through the log, plain sawn wood planks are wider and can be milled effortlessly with minimal waste.

How to sharpen a plane?from wikihow.com

To sharpen the blade, first place a piece of 220-grit wet/dry sandpaper on a flat surface. Hold the blade at a 25 or 30-degree angle so that the bevel is flat against the sandpaper. Maintaining this angle, rub the blade around the sandpaper in a circle while applying downward pressure. When a burr (an accumulation of metal shavings) forms along its back, the blade is ready to use. Remove the burr by wiping the back of the blade flat across the sandpaper.

What is the most versatile hand plane?from wikihow.com

A smoothing plane is about 10 inches (25 cm) long and is the most versatile of all hand planes.

How to lock a planer from cutting?from wikihow.com

Optionally, set the depth stop. Many planers offer the capability to "lock" the planer from cutting beneath a certain depth via a mechanism called a depth stop. For instance, if the depth stop is set to 1 inch (2.5 cm), the planer will not be able to plane the wood to a thickness of less than 1 inch (2.5 cm).

How to adjust the angle of a wood planer?from wikihow.com

If the blade angle is too deep, you can end up jamming the plane or tearing your wood. To adjust the blade angle, turn the depth adjustment wheel, which is the small wheel just behind the blade assembly. Adjust the blade's angle until the tip of the blade protrudes just below the sole of the plane.

How thick is a 2 inch planer?from wikihow.com

Thus, to plane a 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick piece of wood by 1⁄16 in (0.16 cm), you would set the planer to 1 15⁄16 in (4.9 cm) and so on. Note that most planers shouldn't be set to plane off more than 1⁄16 – 1⁄8 in (0.16–0.32 cm) at a time - doing so is hard on both the wood and the planer.

What is flat sawn wood?

Plain sawn (aka Flat Sawn) wood is the most readily available type of wood to purchase. Milling this kind of material is faster as each log is sliced through the center. There is also very minimal waste involved. When you combine a larger yield of lumber with faster milling times, you also end up with a more affordable piece of lumber.

Why is rift sawn lumber more expensive than quarter sawn lumber?

Rift sawn lumber is more expensive than quarter sawn wood due to the amount of labor involved in cutting each individual plank as well as the wasted wood.

How many quarters of lumber do you need to make a plank?

More physical labor and time are required to make a piece of lumber, or flooring plank quarter sawn. By cutting a log into four quarters, then plain sawing each quarter, you end up with lumber that naturally resists cupping. This results in a material that has a more unique, linear grain pattern.

Is quarter sawing more waste than plain sawn lumber?

Keep in mind, the increased labor and benefits bring a higher cost per board foot. Quarter sawing produces more waste than typical plain sawn lumber.

What is flat sawn wood?

Plain sawn, or flat sawn hardwood is the most common and inexpensive way lumber is sawn. When a piece of lumber is plain sawn, the cut is made tangentially to the direction the tree’s growth rings. The growth rings meet the cut at an angle of usually no more than 30 degrees, though sometimes the angle is 45 degrees but no more. This makes for an attractive loop, arrow or cathedral pattern on the face of the board and brings out beautiful figures in the wood.

Why is flat sawn lumber less stable than quarter sawn lumber?

One drawback to flat sawn lumber is that it is less stable than quarter sawn lumber. Because the grain goes in different directions, the wood may not dry evenly. This may cause it to expand in both width and thickness and even to warp in various ways, including twisting, bowing and cupping. Cupping is the most common problem when plain sawn lumber warps. The grade of lumber depends largely on the severity of the kinds of warping.

What is the difference between hickory and sapwood?

The heartwood and sapwood of hickory are different. The heartwood is reddish, while the sapwood is pale. The wood usually has a straight grain, though the grain may be wavy or irregular. Its density and strength depend on the tree’s rate of growth. Hickory dries quickly, without much warping, though it has a tendency to shrink. It stains and polishes well.

What are pitch pockets in wood?

They’re usually found around the growth ring. They can be on one surface of the board or penetrate to the opposite side. Shakes are caused by bacteria that infect the trees through the root and cause the fibers of wood that’s produced in the later part of the tree’s growing season to separate. A pitch pocket is an opening between the tree’s growth rings. It’s full of pitch, or resin and can be very small or very large.

What is the color of heartwood?

The heartwood of this oak is an attractive beige or pink color with a red tinge. It has a straight grain and coarse texture. The Southern type of red oak grows faster than northern red oak and is harder, heavier and has a coarser texture.

Can you plain saw hardwood floors?

Most types of wood can be plain sawn for our hardwood flooring. The woods we offer at Timberline Hardwoods include:

Is maple a strong wood?

Over time it weathers to light tan. It has a straight, curly or wavy grain and a fine texture. Maple is a strong wood, though not as strong as oak. Different types of maple can be used as hardwood flooring.

What is flat sawn lumber?

Plain sawn, also commonly called flat sawn, is the most common lumber you will find. This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber . Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut. The annular rings are generally 30 degrees or less to the face of the board; this is often referred to as tangential grain.

What is quarter sawn wood?

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 is a rift sawn board?

Rift sawn lumber is typically narrow with a very straight grain pattern on the face of the board. Rift sawn lumber is usually used with oak to avoid the flecks that are common in the species. The annular rings or a rift sawn board are about 30-60 degrees to the face of the board, but 45 degrees is the most optimum. Similar to quarter sawn lumber, rift sawn lumber is also referred to as radial grain. The most stable boards, and also the most wasteful to produce, are rift sawn planks. Each of these boards is cut radially perpendicular to the growth rings of the tree. There are large triangles of waste left from between each board. As a result, rift sawn lumber is costly to produce and therefore, the most expensive type of planks available from a log.

What is the best temperature for rift sawn lumber?

In rift sawn lumber the annual rings are typically between 30-60 degrees, with 45 degrees being optimum. Manufactured by milling perpendicular to the log’s growth rings producing a linear grain pattern with no flecking. This method produces the most waste, increasing the cost of this lumber.

What wood is used for mission style furniture?

Often used for cabinetry, flooring, high-end custom crafts and furniture, it is the traditional wood used in making mission style furniture. Other wood species that are sought after in quarter sawn are walnut, maple and cherry. In addition to the desirable grain pattern this type of wood is some of the most dimensionally stable, ...

How are planks cut?

Each plank is cut straight off of the log in one direction without changing the orientation of the log. This method produces boards with a full range of angles of the log’s rings, also known as the log’s “grain”.

Is quarter sawn lumber dimensionally stable?

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 is plain sawn lumber?

This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber. Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut.

What is live sawn wood?

Live sawn is a very unique cut of wood which combines the grains found in plain sawn, quarter sawn, and rift sawn. This is an old method of sawing lumber used by olde world European Craftsman. To make live sawn, the sawyer slices the log directly through. Share this post, Hit on social buttons!

What is the best temperature for rift sawn lumber?

In rift sawn lumber the annual rings are typically between 30-60 degrees, with 45 degrees being optimum. Manufactured by milling perpendicular to the log’s growth rings producing a linear grain pattern with no flecking. This method produces the most waste, increasing the cost of this lumber.

What is live sawn plank?

Live sawn planks include a full range of the log's characteristics, from the sought-after heartwood where the ring patterns are tightest to the sapwood. Plain Sawn Advantages: A material efficient floor with beautiful mixtures of all milling methods included.

Why are quarter sawn boards narrower than plain sawn boards?

Due to this process, quarter sawn boards are typically narrower than plain sawn boards because the log is first quartered – which is a more wasteful method. Quarter Sawn Advantages: Dramatic grain patterns with beautiful flecking in oak species – matching the “mission style” design found in American history.

What is a quarter sawn oak table?

This is a commonly known milling cut in high-end furniture and tables sold as “Quarter Sawn Oak” and such. This cut produces an amazingly straight, striped grain with distinctive “ray and fleck” patterns mixed throughout in red and white oaks. During milling, the log is first quartered lengthwise resulting in wedges with right angles ending towards the center of the log – intersecting the board face at 60 to 90 degree angles. Due to this process, quarter sawn boards are typically narrower than plain sawn boards because the log is first quartered – which is a more wasteful method.

What is flat sawn milling?

Plain sawn milling, also known as "flat" sawn milling, is the most common way to cut a log into flooring planks today. While it is still a more efficient milling method, more material waste is produced than in live sawn milling. The planks are cut so that the angles of the rings are no more than 35 degrees. The resulting grain pattern on the face ...

What is the best way to cut logs into flooring?

Live sawn milling is the most efficient way to cut a log into flooring planks and it is a newer milling method than the others. Each plank is cut straight off of the log in one direction without changing the orientation of the log. This method produces boards with a full range of angles of the log's rings, also known as the log's "grain".

What is a rift saw?

Rift sawing is the most expensive and rare of the milling methods, though sometimes it is mistaken for quarter sawn boards as they are commonly milled as a compliment to a quarter sawn floor. The boards are milled perpendicular to the tree’s growth rings. This produces a noticeably straight grain pattern with no flecking present.

How many degrees does a rift sawn board need to be to be a rift sawn board?

In rift sawn milling, the log's growth rings range from 30-60 degrees to the face of the board, with 45 degrees being the optimum. Due to the extreme amount of waste from the rest of the wood, Rift Sawn flooring is extremely rare and expensive. However, with that expense comes beauty and greater stability. Rift sawn boards are extremely stable and ...

What is the most common type of lumber?

Most common, least expensive. Plain sawn, also commonly called flat sawn, is the most common lumber you will find. This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber. Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut.

What is the best temperature for rift sawn lumber?

In rift sawn lumber the annual rings are typically between 30-60 degrees, with 45 degrees being optimum. Manufactured by milling perpendicular to the log’s growth rings producing a linear grain pattern with no flecking. This method produces the most waste, increasing the cost of this lumber.

What is the annual ring of a rift sawn log?

In rift sawn lumber the annual rings are typically between 30-60 degrees, with 45 degrees being optimum.

Is quarter sawn lumber more expensive than plain sawn lumber?

QUARTER SAWN. More expensive than plain sawn material. Quarter sawn wood has an amazing straight grain pattern that lends itself to design. 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.

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