SAW CUTS
Understanding the Different Saw Cuts
Saw Blade
Understanding Saw Cuts
When wood is put through the saw mill, it is decided what saw cuts will be used. The saw cut determines how the graining of the wood will look. There are three main saw cuts: plain sawn, quarter sawn, and rift sawn. Plain sawn produces boards with graining that is at 0-30 degree angles. Rift sawn is cut so the graining is at 30-60 degree angles. Quarter sawn has 60-90 degree graining. Then there is live sawn, which combines all three saw cuts allowing for a mix of graining on each board. Below we will talk more in detail about these saw cuts.
Sawn Wood
History of Saw Cuts
As with all trends, what is popular has changed over the years. In the 1900’s, furniture and flooring were dominated by rift sawn or quarter sawn due to their stability. Producing each separately is terribly inefficient though and for this reason rift & quartered are predominately sold together in modern times. Today plain sawn is the most common due to its classic look and utilization of most of the log. Live sawn is also gaining in popularity since it combines the look of all three saw cuts and eliminates most waste.
Tear Sheets
Plain Sawn
When cutting for plain sawn (aka flat sawn) which is the most common method today, a board is cut from the log, and then turned 90º before taking the next cut. This process is continued until the entire log is cut. The graining in plain sawn wood are at 0-30 degree angles, which create large open patterns on the face of the boards (referred to as the cathedral effect).
Rift & Quarter Sawn
The sawing techniques for quarter sawn and rift sawn are very wasteful and inefficient. Most of the log is left unusable and the boards that are produced are generally very narrow. Because of these downfalls, rift sawn and quarter sawn are often cut together as rift and quarter sawn. In this sawing technique the log is still quartered, but then each quarter is cut along alternating sides producing about half rift sawn and half quarter sawn. This is very popular today because it produces the wide widths that the modern customer is looking for, while producing a very stable plank and keeping waste to a minimum.
Live Sawn
Live sawn is the oldest method of cutting, but the newest to America. The most common method in Europe, is gaining popularity in the states. Instead of being cut to produce plain sawn, quarter sawn, or rift sawn wood, the log is cut straight through with each cut parallel to the last. This produces a mix of plain, quarter, and rift sawn woods (about of third of each) and eliminates virtually all waste. This method also yields wider boards making it very popular.