The methods of cutting wood are determined by the intended use, appearance, and stability of the wood. We shall consider three cutting methods, of which the first two are the most common.
Wood sawed by the simplest method is called "plain sawed" when it is hardwood, or "flat grained" when it is softwood. Such wood is sawed at a tangent to the annual rings. The log is squared and sawed lengthwise. Knots that occur are round or oval -shaped and have relatively little weakening effect on the lumber. The annual rings appear as approximately straight lines running across grain. The lines join at the bottom, forming a U-shape; however, this part is sometimes cut off. Wood cut this way shrinks and swells very little in thickness.
Wood cut by the method below is called "quarter sawn if it is hardwood. If it is softwood it is called "edge grained" or "vertical grained". The log is sawed into quarters, then into boards. The illustration below shows a common method of cutting the boards. The angle between the cut and the growth rings varies from 90 degrees to about 65 degrees. In such wood, the lines formed by the rings run with the grain. Again they will appear as relatively straight or as U-shaped, depending upon how much is cut off. Such lumber shrinks and swells less in width and warps less than plain-sawn lumber.
The third method is called "rift-sawing". The logs are sawed at not less than 35 or more than 65 degrees to the annual rings, usually at about 45 degrees. In wood sawed this way, the rings appear as longitudinal lines. Rays alwo run longitudinally and are longer than in lumber cut by the other methods.
