What is a quarter-sawn technique

If you are considering buying solid oak furniture, you may be interested to find out how the oak is cut. There are a few techniques used today each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The most common way of cutting solid oak is the plain sawn technique. It involves cutting the lumber with the growth rings parallel to the board's face. This gives the oak a greater variation in its appearance. This is the most common method of cutting wood as there is minimal wastage and it is less time-consuming. All in all, it's the most efficient method.

Another approach is the quarter sawn technique. During the early 20th century, quarter sawn oak became one of the hallmarks of the Arts & Crafts style. While there are many different types of oak, the white variety is usually the oak of choice. The quarter sawn technique involves cutting the wood at right angles to the growth rings. Firstly, a log is cut into quarters then one of the quarters is flipped ninety degrees back and forth to saw off a plane of wood. This method is physically more demanding and requires more time.

The quarter-sawn technique is not the most efficient way of cutting solid oak. If an entire log is cut this way there will be considerable wastage - for that reason it is more expensive. But for all the advantages this method has to offer, it's worth every penny. Having your oak cut this way will lead to greater stability and strength with a reduced risk of warping and shrinkage. The technique will also give your wood less variation in appearance making your oak furniture look great in any room with any style. In addition, a quarter-sawn technique will give rise to decorative ray flecks making your oak a great deal more attractive to the eye. Quarter sawn oak is also less permeable and the straight lines it produces will give a sleek and stream-lined appearance to any piece of furniture. So next time you look at solid oak furniture pay particular attention to its appearance and see if you can identify whether it is plain sawn or quarter-sawn, without looking at the price of course.