Specifying Quartersawn Lumber for your Project
One of the most important things to remember when specifying quartersawn lumber is that there are limitations to the width of the boards that you can specify... because the log is quartered before boards are cut from it, quartered boards are narrower given the same size tree. For example, to get a 12" wide quartered board, the tree from which it is cut would have to be well over 4 feet in diameter.
FML is pleased to provide you with the following guidelines when specifying quartersawn lumber for your projects. If you have any questions, feel free to call our expert sales consultants at 800.345.2643 or email us at sales@frankmiller.com.
Specifying Quartersawn Cherry
- Quartersawn Cherry is narrower than White and Red Oak because the logs are smaller.
- For those interested in all heart (red) cuttings, the heart quotient in each board's width is usually between 3 1/2" and 4", with sapwood along one edge.
- Quartersawn Cherry is used in flooring, cabinetry, millwork or furniture where fine figure is desired, along with narrower widths.
- Supply in Upper grades is usually very tight, yet bargains are to be found in #1 Com and #2 Com, as well as 6-7' Select and Better, perfect for shorter clear cuttings.
- Quartersawn Cherry is distinguished by its straight grain appearance. Lengths are between 4' and 12' (depending on grade). Widths are between 4" and 6" on average.
- While all logs have Medullary Rays as part of their biology, the rays in Cherry are not as pronounced as in the Oaks.
Specifying Quartersawn Hard Maple
- The sapwood in our Hard Maple is of a creamy hue, rather than the milky white found father north.
- Quartersawn Hard Maple is narrower than White and Red Oak because the logs are smaller.
- For those interested in all sap cuttings, the sap quotient in each board's width is usually between 3 1/2" and 4", with heartwood along one edge.
- Quartersawn Hard Maple is used in flooring, cabinetry, millwork or furniture where fine figure is desired, along with narrower widths
- Supply in Upper grades is usually very tight, yet bargains are to be found in #1 Com and #2 Com as well as 6-7' Select and Better, perfect for shorter clear cuttings.
- Quartersawn Hard Maple is distinguished by its straight grain appearance. Lengths are between 4' and 12' (depending on grade) and widths are between 4" and 6" on average.
- While all logs have Medullary Rays as part of their biology, the rays in Hard Maple are not as pronounced as in the Oaks.
Specifying Quartersawn Red Oak
- The Medullary or "Ray Fleck" in Quartered Red Oak, while more subtle than that of White Oak, becomes more pronounced when the wood is finished.
- Its straight grain will restrict its shrinkage to the thickness of the board as opposed to width. This also minimizes warping and cupping, making it an ideal flooring and furniture product.
- Quartersawn Red Oak is separated by visual characteristics into either "quartered" which exhibits flake in 80% of the board and "rift", which are the boards that show less than 80% flake. "Rift" is simply less figured "quartered", while maintaining the same straight grain appearance as quartered.
- Quartered and Rift Red Oak are used in flooring, cabinetry, millwork or furniture, but Rift is used where a more subtle appearance is desired.
- Red Oak is more porous than White Oak, therefore lending itself to staining more easily. Lengths are between 4' and 12' (depending on grade) and widths are between 4" and 8" on average.
Specifying Quartersawn Walnut
- Quartersawn Walnut is distinguished by its straight grain appearance. Quartersawn Walnut is narrower than White and Red Oak because the logs are smaller.
- For those interested in all heart (brown) cuttings, the heart quotient in each board’s width is usually between 4" and 4.5" with sapwood along one edge.
- Quartersawn Walnut is used in flooring, cabinetry, millwork or furniture where fine figure is desired, along with narrower widths.
- Supply in Upper grades is usually very tight, yet bargains are to be found in #1 Com and #2 Com, as well as 6-7' Select and Better, perfect for shorter clear cuttings.
- Lengths are between 4' and 12' (depending on grade) and widths are between 4" and 8" on average.
- While all logs have Medullary Rays as part of their biology, the rays in Walnut are not as pronounced as in the Oaks.
Specifying Quartersawn White Oak
- White Oak is non porous, which allows it to be used in building wine and whiskey barrels as well as boats. The difference is that White Oak has "Tyloses" in its vascular cells, which effectively seal the cells as the tree grows.
- Its straight grain will restrict its shrinkage to the thickness of the board as opposed to width. This also minimizes warping and cupping, making it an ideal flooring and furniture product.
- Quartersawn White Oak is separated by visual characteristics into either "quartered" which exhibits flake in 80% of the board and "rift", which are the boards that show less than 80% flake. "Rift" is simply less figured "quartered", while maintaining the same straight grain appearance as quartered.
- Quartered and Rift White Oak are used in flooring, cabinetry, millwork or furniture, but Rift is used where a more subtle appearance is desired.
- Lengths are between 4' and 12' (depending on grade) and widths are between 4" and 8" on average.