Rift & Quartered Oak in Santa Monica, California
Posted on
3/1/2022
Many wood species can be cut in a rift and quartered grain; it is commonly known to be more steady with less expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity. Making it more preferable and usable in a wider range of applications. Rift and quartered grain is most common with White Oak.
Rift and Quartered grain is achieved with a specific milling technique that varies from the more common, plain sawn design. Logs are cut with the grains intersecting the face of the board at an approximate 60-degree angle. The log is sawn into four quarters and each quarter of the log is sawn perpendicular to the growth rings at an angle, therefore being called rift and quartered. This produces the traditional long lined grain that rift and quartered is known for.
Another unique trait of rift and quartered hardwood is the presentation of medullary rays. Medullary rays are the cellular structures found in timbers, containing small capillaries inside timber that run from the middle of the tree to the outer growth ring. When quarter sawn, they produce a wavy, ribbon-like effect in the board referred to as "flecking". Hardwood just has a straight grain with flecking when sawn into four quarters and cut at a 60-degree angle. Basically, only rift and quartered grain can have a straight grain with flecking because of the way it's milled.
Many wood species can be cut in a rift and quartered grain; it is commonly known to be more steady with less expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity. Making it more preferable and usable in a wider range of applications. Rift and quartered grain is most common with White Oak.
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