Wood Grain Structure & Methods of Sawing

Question 1

• type of wood grain structure

- fibers running in the same direction as the main axis of the tree

Answer 1

Straight grain

Question 2

• type of wood grain structure

- grains are in successive layers and in opposite direction

Answer 2

Interlocked grain

Question 3

• type of wood grain structure

- constantly in orientation so that a line parallel to their direction appears as wavy lines

Answer 3

Wavy or Curly grain

Question 4

• type of wood grain structure

- when a straight-grained log is not sawn along its vertical axis

Answer 4

Diagonal grain

Question 5

• type of wood grain structure

- fibers follow a spiral course with a left or right-handed twist

Answer 5

Spiral grain

Question 6

• type of wood grain structure

- has fibers at directions that are varying from the log’s vertical axis

Answer 6

Irregular grain

Question 7

• type of grain structure according to how lumber is sawn

- wood is cut parallel to the grain direction and tangent to growth rings

Answer 7

Plain/Tangential or Flat grain

Question 8

• type of grain structure according to how lumber is sawn

- wood is cut parallel to the grain direction but through the radius of growth rings

Answer 8

Quarter or Radial grain

Question 9

• type of grain structure according to how lumber is sawn

- board is cut across the grain (perpendicular to the grain direction and growth rings)

Answer 9

End grain

Question 10

• method of sawing lumber
• most common method, it produces the highest quantity of usable lumber- “sawing around”
• minimum waste/ cost, minimum stability

Answer 10

Plain Sawing

Question 11

• method of sawing lumber
• cuts the log in quarters, then slices each quarter into boards, either by cutting from two flat sides or by gang-sawing (parallel cuts)

Answer 11

Quarter Sawing

Question 12

• method of sawing lumber
• annual rings are typically between 30 - 60 degrees- has unique linear appearance
• maximum waste/ cost, medium stability

Answer 12

Rift Sawing

Question 13

• method of sawing lumber
• “sawing through and through”
• produces much wider boards than other methods
• mixed grains

Answer 13

Live Sawing