Quarter Saw

[Evon]

Could someone explain what is meant by "Quarter" sawn? What is the difference between a 2x2 and a 8 quarter?

[Lowell Holmes]

Quarter sawn wood is sawn in such a way that the growth rings are perpendicular to the face of the board. It is generally less sensitive to expansion from moisture and is stronger. More of the log is wasted, therefore it is more expensive. Quarter sawn wood produces interesting flecks and patterns that are popular in Craftsman style furniture ( also known as Mission and Stickley).

In my mind , 2x2 wood is milled to 1 1/2" x 1 1/2", while 8/4 wood is 2" thick and rough. It often is found to be 1 15/16" thick, I suspect there is a tolerance.

[Anthony Diodati]

Three different descriptions here.

1/4 or quater sawn, is the way the board is cut from the log. Different grain pattern on the board. The log is 1st cut into quarters, then boards are sawn from the quarters. If you look at the end of the board, the grain will look something like this. [lllllllll] A 2X2 is a board 2"X2" in dimension. 8 quarter, or 8/4 is 8 1/4's of an inch. or 2". 4/4 is 1 inch, 5/4 is 1

[gabriel]

Try google first next time. This is the first hit when you search for "quarter sawn":

[SteveC1280]

A quarter, as it refers to wood, is a quarter inch. So 8 quarter is 2 inches. Quarter sawn is a way wood is cut to expose the rays in the grain patern and yields more stable lumber, less affected by changes in humidity. If you look at the end of a log, it's essentially a circle. Draw an 'X' thru the circle and that's where the log is first cut for quarter sawn lumber. Four quarters, hence quarter sawn.

Remove the 'remove' in my address to e:mail me.

[Mark]

Measured in quarters, 8/4 is 2", 5/4 is 1 1/4"

For quarter sawn see here:

[George]

R Bruce Hoadley - Understanding Wood

Second best book to have on the nightstand.

[mttt]

Two different notions here:

"Eight Quarter (8/4)" or 4/4 or 12/4... is a way of dimensioning "rough" lumber. When you buy hardwood from a hardwood dealer, the thickness will be specified in "quarters" 4/4, 5/4, 8/4, etc. When you buy hardwood from Home Depot - it will be sized like the lumber used for construction: 2x4x8,

1x8x12, etc.

Note that 2x2x12 covers all three dimensions - length, width and thickness.

8/4 refers only to "thickness".

"Quartersawn" is a way of cutting up a log. One of the more common ways you'll encounter the term is "Quartersawn Oak" as it is the typical choice for those building Mission Style furniture.

To answer your specific question - a 2x2 of SYP is about 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

8/4 hardwood will be about 2" in thickness (but can be a few 32nds or more less) - the width and length will vary board by board.

[stoutman]

whats the best?

[Lyndell Thompson]

A 2x2 is dimension lumber and is finished at about 1-5/8 x 1-5/8. 8/4 lumber )or put another way 8 x 1/4"=2 full inches. If you buy 8/4 lumber at a sawmill and take it home and plane it you probalbly will have 1-3/4 finished product or therabouts. As far as quarter sawn.........I will make a stab at explaining it but, 200 page books have been written on the subject and not covered it complete. If a sawmill operator cuts a log lengthwise in half, and then halfs each half and then slices a board off of each flat side(not the bark side) this will be quarter sawn wood, I.E. the grain will be almost perpendicular to the wide side of the board. This is a very good grade of lumber with least amount of warping and shrinkage. It is also one of the most wasteful, especially if wider boards are needed. You only get a few decent size boards before it tapers back to the bark.

Here is an end view of a quarter sawn board:

____________ ///////////////////////////

---------------------

the log:(endview) *= bark - = saw marks

• *----|----* * The quarter:(endview)

|* | |_* | |__ * |_ |____*

Not a professional , just my two cents worth. Hope this helps. Lyndell

[George]

HUH?

LV Catalogue.

[gabriel]

There's a joke that "Don Quixote" was the best ever nightstand book.... Because it's so danged thick, it'll more than make up for a broken nightstand leg...

Okay, maybe the joke does not translate too well!