WHAT IS QUARTER SAWN LUMBER?
Technically, quarter-sawn lumber has the growth rings of the tree apporximately perpendicular to the board's broad face. In contrast, plain-sawn lumber has the growth rings parallel to the board's broad face. Quarter sawing produces both quartered and rift lumber.



HOW IS QUARTER SAWN LUMBER ACHIEVED?
There is only one true way to quarter saw a log. First, a log is cut into quarters. Each quarter is then processed by cutting a single board off of one face, then cutting the next board from the opposite face, and cutting from alternating faces until the quarter is completely cut.

WHAT ARE THE STRUCTURAL QUALITIES OF QUARTER SAWN LUMBER?
Quarter-sawn lumber is the uncontested winner when compared to plain (or flat) sawn lumber. Quarter-sawn lumber:

-reduces shrinking and swelling in lumber width.
-reduces twisting, warping and cupping.
-is less prone to surface checking.
-does not allow liquids to readily pass through it.
-holds finishes better.
-has a smooth surface as raised grain is not pronounced.

WHAT ARE THE AESTHETIC QUALITIES OF QUARTER-SAWN LUMBER?
The most notable characteristic of quarter-sawn lumber lies in its imcomparable grain patterns. Medullary ray fleck, wavy grain, and interlocked grain are all visually enhanced when the log is quarter-sawn.

The revival of mission style furniture is just one example of how today's artisans are rediscovering the unique beauty of quarter-sawn lumber.

Today's heirloom furniture, the antiques of tommorrow, is crafted from quarter-sawn lumber. Quality reproductions and renovations of artisan's work demand true quarter-sawn lumber. Quarter-sawn wood is the choice of wood artisans.

WHAT SPECIES ARE QUARTER-SAWN?
All species can be quarter-sawn. Some examples are white oak, red oak, walnut, ash, cherry, hard maple, sycamore and beech.

WHY DOES CANAL DOVER CHOOSE WHITE OAK FOR ITS QUARTER-SAWN FURNITURE?
Quarter-sawn white oak was the species artisans used for original high-quality mission style furniture in the early 1900's. It was chosen because the medullary ray fleck, wavy grain, and because other aesthetic qualities are more pronounced in white oak than other species. White oak is also a denser, more stable, and durable species.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUARTERED LUMBER AND RIFT LUMBER?
A quartered board features medullary ray or "fleck" perpendicular to a grain which typically forms angles from 60 degrees to 90 degrees with the board's surface. A rift board exhibits a clean, straight, verticle grain pattern which typically forms angles from 30 degrees to 60 degrees with the board's surface. A combination of rift and quarter-sawn lumber is often used by wood artisans to achieve a delightful aesthetic effect.

WHAT IS THE ECOLOGICAL BENEFIT TO QUARTER SAWING?
There is a significant ecological benefit derived by using quartered and rift lumber compared to plain-sawn lumber. A quarter-sawn log is "sawn from the inside out," resulting in more usable wood from each log. Additionally, the quarter sawing process uses less energy.

IF QUARTER SAWING IS SO GOOD, WHEN DON'T ALL SAWMILLS DO IT?
For most, the art of quarter-sawing has been lost over the years. Like many superior practices of the past, quarter- sawing lost favor to plain sawing techniques. Plain-sawing is easier, cheaper, and quicker. . .but it results in more waste, less grain characteristic and less stable lumber.

Information provided by Canal Dover Furniture Company,
Midvale, OH.

CANAL DOVER STILLWATER
CANAL DOVER HILL HOUSE