Swan Lumber Types: Quarter Sawn vs Plain Sawn vs Rift Sawn

Lumber can be cut from logs in several different ways, each producing boards with distinct visual grain patterns and structural properties. The three primary sawing methods are Quarter Sawn, Plain Sawn (also called Flat Sawn), and Rift Sawn.

Understanding the key differences between these techniques allows you to select the best lumber type for your woodworking or construction project. So let’s choose the right one and best for your needs by reading the below detailed comparison of these 3 types.

 

How Quarter Sawn Lumber is Produced

Quarter sawn lumber is produced by first cutting the log into quarters lengthwise. This produces wedge shaped sections with the pith or center of the log forming the point. The quarters are then plain sawn to produce boards with the annual growth rings generally between 60-90 degrees relative to the face of the board.

The quarter sawing process involves more labor and time than plain sawing as each quarter log has to be maneuvered to maintain the proper cutting angle. It also produces more waste material as the wedge shape of the quarters results in narrower boards. However, quarter sawing yields boards with highly desirable properties.

Benefits of Using Quarter Sawn Lumber

Quarter sawn lumber has several benefits compared to plain sawn boards. The grain in quarter sawn wood is straighter, resulting in a more stable board that resists cupping, twisting, and warping.

This makes quarter sawn ideal for flooring where stability is paramount. Quarter sawn boards also have enhanced paint retention and are more resistant to moisture penetration.

However, quarter sawing is more labor intensive and produces more waste than plain sawing, so quarter sawn lumber costs more per board foot.

There are several notable benefits to using quarter sawn lumber:

• Dimensional Stability: The steep angle of the growth rings means quarter sawn boards are less prone to cupping, twisting, and warping as the wood dries. Quarter sawn lumber shrinks and expands less across its width.
• Grain Pattern: The grain pattern is straight and uniform since the growth rings are nearly perpendicular to the board face. This gives quarter sawn wood an attractive appearance.
• Decorative Flecks: In oak, the medullary rays in the wood are exposed during quarter sawing, producing distinctive ray fleck patterning on the board face. This adds to the visual appeal.
• Strength: The perpendicular grain makes quarter sawn boards stronger than plain sawn boards. They are less likely to split or check.

Quarter sawn lumber is ideal for applications like furniture, flooring, architectural millwork, and musical instruments where strength and stability are important. The attractive grain patterns also make it desirable for decorative surfaces.

Drawbacks of Using Quarter Sawn Lumber

While quarter sawn lumber displays attractive, straight grain patterns, its production comes at a steep cost. Quarter sawing is an extremely wasteful and labor-intensive process, with each log initially quartered before plain sawing the wedges.

This technique yields narrower boards and generates abundant scrap wood between cuts. The strict perpendicular grain alignment also limits board widths compared to plain or rift sawn alternatives.

Further drawbacks include restricted availability, as few mills still practice true quarter sawing. The linear grain can lack visual interest for applications like flooring or furniture. Overall, quarter sawn’s superior stability comes at the sacrifice of affordability, sustainability, and character.

• More expensive to produce than plain or rift sawn lumber
• Creates smaller width boards due to grain alignment
• Labor intensive and wasteful manufacturing technique
• Limited availability as few mills still practice quarter sawing
• Lacks distinctive grain patterns and visual interest
• Excellent stability but at the cost of character and sustainability
• Perpendicular grain restricts width of boards
• Ideal for applications requiring stability like musical instruments
• Not recommended when cost or sustainability are deciding factors

 

How Plain Sawn (Flat Sawn) Lumber is Produced

Plain sawn, also called flat sawn, refers to boards that are sliced from the log parallel to its centerline. This produces boards with the annual growth rings oriented between 0-30 degrees relative to the face of the board.

The main advantage of plain sawing is it maximizes yield from the log, producing wider boards with the least waste. It also requires less milling time and handling compared to quarter sawing or rift sawing. This makes plain sawn lumber the most affordable and commonly available sawing method.

Benefits of Using Plain Sawn Lumber

Plain sawn lumber displays a beautiful and distinct “cathedral” grain pattern, with loops and growth swirls on the face of the boards. This type of lumber is the most readily available and cost-effective to produce, as it utilizes the entire log and minimizes waste.

Plain sawn boards are wider than quarter or rift sawn lumber, allowing for more creative applications. The main downsides are that plain sawn lumber is more prone to cupping and twisting as it dries, and tends to absorb moisture from the air more readily than other cuts.

• Most affordable and available cut of lumber
• Produces wider boards than other cuts
• Displays attractive cathedral grain patterns
• Utilizes the entire log, minimizing waste
• More prone to cupping/twisting than quarter or rift sawn
• Tends to absorb moisture from air more readily
• Grain pattern provides creative possibilities in applications
• Ideal for projects where cost is a main factor
• Provides beautiful and unique look in flooring, furniture, etc.

Drawbacks of Using Plain Sawn Lumber

While plain sawn lumber is the most affordable and readily available cut, it has some drawbacks compared to quarter and rift sawn wood.

Plain sawn boards are more prone to cupping and twisting as they dry out due to the angled grain. Plain sawn wood also tends to absorb more moisture from the air, leading to increased wood movement.

Though plain sawing yields more lumber from each log, the resulting boards are less dimensionally stable than quarter or rift sawn alternatives.

While plain sawn lumber is cost-effective and simple to produce, it does have some disadvantages:

• Less Stable: The low angle of the growth rings means plain sawn boards are more prone to cupping, twisting, and warping as they dry.
• Grain Pattern: The grain pattern tends to be uneven with a “cathedral arch” shape, rather than straight and uniform.
• Strength: Plain sawn boards are weaker than quarter sawn or rift sawn boards and more likely to split over time.
• Shrinkage: Plain sawn wood shrinks more across its width as humidity changes.

Plain sawn lumber is best suited for general framing and construction applications where appearance and stability are less important factors.

 

How Rift Sawn Lumber is Produced

Rift sawing involves cutting the log into quarters lengthwise as with quarter sawing. But then the quarters are rotated incrementally between cuts to maintain a cutting angle of 30-60 degrees relative to the growth rings.

This produces boards with grain patterns nearly as straight as quarter sawn lumber. However, rift sawing is more wasteful than quarter sawing as it leaves angled gaps between the boards. The intricate cutting method also requires more time and labor.

Benefits of Using Rift Sawn Lumber

Rift sawn lumber has the most dimensional stability of the three cuts but is the most expensive to produce. Milling perpendicular to the growth rings results in straight grained boards that are consistent in appearance.

Rift sawn wood resists cupping and twisting better than quarter or plain sawn. However, rift sawing is time consuming and wasteful, leaving large sections of the log unused. The labor and waste make rift sawn lumber cost prohibitive for many applications.

But for projects requiring maximum stability, rift sawn is unmatched.

The main benefits of rift sawn lumber include:

• Stability: Rift sawn boards are the most dimensionally stable with very little tendency to cup or warp.
• Grain Pattern: The grain is highly uniform since growth rings are nearly perpendicular to the face.
• Strength: Rift sawn wood is stronger than plain sawn and quarter sawn.
• Shrinkage: Rift sawn lumber experiences less shrinkage across its width.

The compromise is that rift sawn wood is substantially more expensive than other sawing methods due to the high material waste and labor required. But for applications like furniture and cabinetry where quality is paramount, rift sawn boards are often preferred.

Drawbacks of Using Rift Sawn Lumber

Rift sawn lumber displays extremely straight and consistent grain patterns, but its production comes at a steep cost. Milling rift sawn boards is a laborious and wasteful process, with triangular scraps leftover between each cut.

This intensive manufacturing technique makes rift sawn lumber the most expensive type to produce. The strict perpendicular grain alignment also limits board widths compared to plain or quarter sawn alternatives.

Further drawbacks include restricted availability, as few mills still practice true rift sawing. The linear grain can lack visual interest for applications like flooring or furniture. Overall, rift sawn’s superior stability comes at the sacrifice of affordability, sustainability, and character.

• More expensive to produce than plain or quarter sawn
• Creates smaller width boards due to grain alignment
• Labor intensive and wasteful manufacturing technique
• Limited availability as few mills still practice rift sawing
• Lacks distinctive grain patterns and visual interest
• Excellent stability but at the cost of character and sustainability
• Perpendicular grain restricts width of boards
• Ideal for applications requiring stability like musical instruments
• Not recommended when cost or sustainability are deciding factors

 

Appearance Differences Between Sawing Methods

The way lumber is cut from the log dramatically impacts its visual appearance. Plain sawn boards exhibit uneven “cathedral arch” grain patterns. Quarter sawn lumber has uniform, straight grain with attractive flecking in oak. Rift sawn grain is extremely straight but lacks rays.

Understanding these appearance differences allows selecting lumber that achieves your desired aesthetic for wood projects.

The different sawing techniques produce boards with distinct grain patterns:

• Plain sawn: Uneven “cathedral arch” grain pattern due to tangential cutting angle.
• Quarter sawn: Straight, uniform grain with attractive ray fleck in oak. Growth rings at 60-90 degrees.
• Rift sawn: Extremely straight, uniform grain without flecks. Growth rings at 30-60 degrees.

Quarter sawn and rift sawn lumber have more pleasing visual qualities, while plain sawn has a more rustic appearance. Grain patterns impact the look of finished wood surfaces.

 

Structural Differences Between Sawing Methods

 

 

Stability, strength, and shrinkage vary significantly between sawing techniques. Rift sawn lumber is the most dimensionally stable and resistant to cupping/warping. Quarter sawn is moderately stable. Plain sawn is the least stable and prone to distortion. Rift sawn is also the strongest, followed by quarter sawn, with plain sawn being weakest.

Shrinkage across the width is least in rift sawn boards. Sawing method impacts lumber’s physical properties.

The primary structural differences between the sawing methods relate to stability, strength, and shrinkage:

• Stability: Rift sawn is most stable, followed by quarter sawn, with plain sawn being least stable.
• Strength: Rift sawn is the strongest, quarter sawn is moderately strong, and plain sawn is weakest.
• Shrinkage: Rift sawn experiences the least shrinkage in width, followed by quarter sawn, with plain sawn shrinking the most.

Rift sawn and quarter sawn woods are less prone to cupping, checking, and warping. Plain sawn is more susceptible to wood movement and distortion.

 

Cost Differences Between Sawing Methods

The cost of lumber corresponds to the waste and labor required during sawing. Plain sawn is least expensive, simplest to produce with minimal waste. Quarter sawn is moderately expensive due to more waste than plain sawn.

Rift sawn is most expensive due to intensive labor and high material waste. Understanding the cost differences allows selecting the sawing method that fits your budget.

The cost of lumber generally corresponds to the amount of waste produced and labor required during sawing:

• Plain sawn: Least expensive, simplest sawing method.
• Quarter sawn: Moderately expensive due to more waste than plain sawn.
• Rift sawn: Most expensive due to high waste and intensive labor.

As a general rule, plain sawn lumber will be the most affordable, followed by quarter sawn, with rift sawn being the priciest.

 

Best Uses for Each Sawing Method

Choosing lumber’s sawing technique depends on the project. Plain sawn works for basic construction where appearance and stability are less important. Quarter sawn offers a compromise for furniture and millwork. Rift sawn is best reserved for fine furniture and crafts where quality is paramount.

Matching sawing method to application results in optimal lumber selection.

Choosing the right sawing technique for your lumber depends on your project needs:

• Plain sawn – Framing, construction, rough carpentry, crates
• Quarter sawn – Furniture, cabinets, flooring, trim, millwork
• Rift sawn – Fine furniture, custom cabinetry, musical instruments

Plain sawn works for basic building where appearance and stability are less important. Quarter sawn offers a good compromise for furniture and detailed woodwork. Rift sawn is best reserved for high-end applications where quality is paramount.

 

Tips for Identifying Lumber Sawing Methods

With practice, sawing methods can be identified by examining end grain for ring angle, checking grain pattern, and looking for medullary rays in oak. Quarter sawn grain is straight with rays. Rift sawn is uniform without rays.

Plain sawn has uneven arches. Learning to distinguish these fundamental lumber cuts helps select appropriate boards.

With practice, you can identify quarter sawn, plain sawn, and rift sawn boards by sight:

• Examine end grain for angle of growth rings. Use a loupe if needed.
• Look for flecks on oak to identify quarter sawn boards.
• Check grain pattern on face – straight or uneven cathedral arch?
• Rift sawn grain is very uniform without flecks.
• Quarter sawn grain is straight but may have some slope.
• Plain sawn grain is uneven with dramatic arches.

Ask your lumber supplier for assistance identifying sawing methods if unsure. Being able to distinguish these fundamental lumber cuts is an important woodworking skill.

 

FAQs

 

What type of lumber is best for furniture?

Quarter sawn or rift sawn lumber are best for furniture as they have attractive grain patterns and are dimensionally stable. The perpendicular growth rings resist cupping and warping. Quarter sawn oak also displays distinctive ray flecks.

What lumber is best for framing and construction?

Plain sawn lumber is well suited for framing, crating, and construction applications where appearance and stability are less important. The low cost and wide boards maximize value for basic building.

How can you identify quarter sawn boards?

Quarter sawn boards have growth rings at a steep 60-90 degree angle to the face. Oak boards will also exhibit distinctive ray flecking. The grain pattern is straight and uniform. Checking the end grain is the easiest way to identify quarter sawn wood.

Why is rift sawn lumber so expensive?

Rift sawn lumber requires extra milling time and intricate handling to rotate the quarters between cuts. This specialized technique also produces significant material waste, driving up cost. The yield is far less than plain sawing or quarter sawing the same log.

Is quarter sawn stronger than plain sawn?

Yes, quarter sawn lumber is moderately stronger than plain sawn. The perpendicular grain provides greater resistance to splitting over time. The angular growth rings create a more rigid board. Rift sawn boards are the strongest due to their uniform grain.

What are the benefits of quarter sawn vs plain sawn?

Quarter sawn lumber is more stable, attractive, and durable than plain sawn. The perpendicular growth rings minimize shrinkage and warping. Quarter sawn also has a pleasing grain pattern, often with ray flecking in oak. It costs more than plain sawn but offers quality benefits.

Why is plain sawn lumber less expensive?

Plain sawn lumber requires less milling time and waste compared to quarter sawn or rift sawn techniques. The simple parallel cuts maximize yield from the log. Higher production volume and efficiency results in plain sawn boards being the most cost effective.

What lumber should be used for cabinetry?

Quarter sawn or rift sawn lumber are ideal choices for cabinetry. The straight, uniform grain patterns give an attractive appearance. Perpendicular growth rings also minimize expansion and contraction to prevent distortion of cabinet parts over time.

Key Facts

• Quarter sawing cuts the log into quarters before sawing boards.
• Plain sawing slices boards parallel to the log’s center.
• Rift sawing rotates quarters between cuts.
• Quarter sawn boards have attractive, uniform grain.
• Plain sawn boards have uneven “cathedral arch” grain.
• Rift sawn grain is extremely uniform.
• Rift sawn lumber is the most stable and strongest.
• Plain sawn lumber is the least expensive sawing method.
• Quarter sawn and rift sawn cost more due to waste.

While it may seem like a technical detail, understanding the differences between quarter sawn, plain sawn, and rift sawn lumber allows selecting the ideal boards for your project based on appearance, stability, strength, and budget. Quarter sawn offers the best compromise for many applications, while rift sawn is ultimate quality.

But plain sawn has cost benefits for basic construction. With practice, you can learn to identify the sawing method at a glance. Your finished project relies heavily on choosing appropriate lumber, so take the time to make an informed selection based on your needs and the inherent qualities of each sawing technique.