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When talking about quarter sawn lumber using a sawmill, this is referring to lumber that has been cut at a certain angle. Generally, it means cutting wood where the yearly growth rings intersect the board’s face at between 60 to 90 degrees. When cutting this wood, each log is sawed into four quarters at a radial angle. With the method of rift sawn lumber that method is done at 45 to 80 degrees. Quarter sawn lumber is highly desirable There are different methods you can use your saw mill to saw your lumber depending on what you need it for and what grain patterns you might want to create. Quarter sawing is a very popular option sought after in some hardwoods because of the patterns it creates. For example, when it comes to sawn oak, quarter sawn is going to cost more than plain sawn, and then rift sawn is the most expensive. But it is not just that quarter sawing looks attractive making it more desirable. Quarter sawn wood comes with the advantage of being more dimensionally sound so it will not dish or cup as it dries and will have less shrinkage than you see with plain-sawn lumber. This makes quarter sawn wood more desirable, especially to cabinet makers, woodworkers, craftspeople and furniture shops. It should be noted that not all lumber increases in how much it sells when quarter sawn, it depends on the time involved and the amount of handling. Advantages and disadvantages of quarter sawn lumber Here is a look at just some of the advantages and disadvantages to quarter sawn lumber. Advantages - Compared to flatsawn lumber using a saw mill, there is half the shrinkage with its width, 3% compared to 6%
- Great as flooring as it wears a lot more evenly
- If there are varying humidity levels it is more stable
- Woodworkers highly value the heavy ray fleck aspect in red and white oak
- Less chance of it checking as it dries and it does dry flatter
Disadvantages - There is less yield from logs, about 20% less
- Production rates are slower so less lumber is cut with a sawmill
- Takes longer to dry, up to 15% longer, sometimes more
- The shrinkage in thickness is twice as much as flatsawn lumber
- It is less strong because of the spike knots rather than the circular knots
Conclusion When you use your sawmill or go visit a sawmill the lumber is usually cut in one of three methods. Plain sawn produces the highest yield but the most affordable lumber. Quarter sawn as described above that creates a desirable lumber but with a lower yield and higher cost. Then rift sawn, the most expensive and lease yielding method. The cutting method changes the log orientations and how it is cut and the results define the lumber you end up with. It also affects the properties of the wood as well as its appearance. Whether you are cutting for yourself or to sell make sure you know what cut you are using.
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