A rift sawn boards is a lot like quarter sawn but they are kind of a slightly different angle, we will go on to more on that later. Now where some boards usually have a very characteristic straight grain pattern on their face. The easiest way I know to determine how a board was actually cut from a log is to look at the end grain. We have a couple of examples here for you. Like I mentioned before, the most common thing you going to come across is a flat sawn board. You see it has a very typical sort of a cathedral grain pattern; it was it is referred to as. You look at the end grain here and it is pretty much horizontal. It is a little bit wavy, you expect to see some waviness in the grain but I have drawn some lines here to really exaggerate what the grain pattern would look like.
If you see that you know you got flat sawn board. Based on the sort of grain structure, when it actually absorbs moisture, you are going to get a lot of expansion in this direction. That is something that we had to plan for when we build our furniture but it is something that is more of a concern with a flat sawn than some of these other examples and I will explain that as we go through it. Now quarter sawn board, I actually got a nice piece of quarter sawn white oak here. See these great raised like patterns here, this is the wood that is used in mission’s house, the hallmark of mission style. You could see why, especially once you get to finish on this, when you fume it, it just looks incredible. And if you find the end grain pattern here, we got a nearly vertical pattern some 90͊ pattern. It is about 90° to the face of the board. In fact if it is between 60° and 90° it qualifies the rule of thumb and qualifies as a quarter sawn board. The interesting thing about this wood is it is incredibly dimensionally stable. So that when you build with this material, especially if you make a tabletop out of it, you could pretty much count on that table top stand pretty darn flat throughout the life of the table.
That is why this stuff is used for things like barrels, it is used for flooring, it is just a very dimensionally stable wood. Now a close brother to the quarter sawn is the rift sawn board. It is a slightly different angle than quarter sawn, as the quarter sawn was 60° to 90°, while rift sawn is anything that is between 30° and 60°. If you look at the grain pattern I have here marked out, we are at about 45 ° Maybe a little bit less but it still qualifies as a rift sawn board. If you look at the face of the board, you have this really just nice I don’t know, some people do not like it because it is too bland but it is a very consistent straight grain line structure and again another popular wood to be used in flooring.
So now that we know a little bit more about what we are buying, where do we shop? The first thing is first. Stay away from the big box stores. By that I mean stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. Although it might be more convenient, you will pay two to three times as much for half the quality and a ridiculously small selection. Keep those stores for the 2x4. Now the second option would be the store that specializes in woodworking supplies like Rockler and WOODCRAFts. These stores will have a much better selection as well as some expert taste from the staff. Unfortunately, they just do not sell the volume required to offer truly competitive pricing. The third option would be online. I personally do not like the idea of mail order since I like to see and touch the lumber before I buy it. But if you do decide to go on an online retailer, be sure to find one with a really good reputation and a strong online presence. You just cannot be too safe online these days. And the fourth option which I strongly recommend is to find a local hardwood dealer. The easiest way to find a local dealer in your area. You guessed it, the yellow pages. Start by looking under lumber. I have a quick tip here to speed up your search. Generally, you want to stay away from companies with the word lumber or building material in the name. These guys usually deal in general construction lumber. The keyword to look for is hardwood. The hardwood dealers will most likely have a nice sort of domestic and exotic hardwoods as well as all kinds of sheet goods. And when it comes time to make the lumber run, call all the local hardwood dealers that you know of and find your best price. Keep in mind that if you are a member of your local guild or association, you can frequently get a discount. It never hurts to ask. .
So let us finish up today by talking about what you should expect when you go to the hardwood dealer. On our little demonstration earlier was a true story, but I doubt your experience would be as bad. And if you are armed with information, you know what you want; you should not have a problem. Now, if you are going to your new dealer for the first time, just keep your eyes open. Ask yourself where is the office? Where are the other costumers loading their lumber? Is there a sign prohibiting costumers from entering the warehouse? Where are the hot girls or guys for you lady woodworkers? Now, keep in mind that the bread and butter costumers are usually the professional woodworkers, contractors, and all types of cabinet shops. I am sure deep down, they appreciate the business of recreational woodworkers; the whole scene can be a little bit intimidating to newcomers. So just find the office, ask for what you need, and they should be able to direct you to the right area and get you up to speed on their process.
And just a few last things to keep in mind before we go. 1. Not all dealers follow the same rules for pricing and for measuring. 2. Not all lumberyard employees are happy. Maybe it is the splinters but lot of these guys would clearly rather be anywhere else but at their job. 3. Check your receipt. Use some of my hints earlier to estimate your board footage and make sure everything was calculated properly. Lastly, 4, not all dealers will let you rummage through the wood pile. I know it sucks.
I hope you have enjoyed this episode of the wood whisperer. Armed with just a little information and knowledge, you too can easily avoid that lumbering feeling. And for more videos, and helpful tutorials, please visit our website at www.thewoodwhisperer.com. And if you have any questions or comments about the show, drop us any email at thewoodwhisperer@gmail.com. and I would also like to mention that if you have woodworking question at all, you can send them directly to me though the website, just click on the ask the wood whisperer button and fill out the form. Not only will I answer your question but your email could very well be featured as our email question of the week which basically gets you nothing. So now if you will excuse me, I need to go build something.
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