White oak is a popular choice for furniture due to its durability and beautiful grain patterns. However, the way the wood is cut can greatly affect the appearance of the grain. With White Oak, there exists a trinity of grain appearances — rift, flat sawn, and quarter sawn. Each cut tells a beautiful tale bearing witness to the dance between wood, saw and craftsman.
Flat sawn white oak is the most common type of cut and results in a cathedral-like grain pattern with large, swooping curves. This cut is less expensive and quicker to produce, making it more accessible. The grain patterns of flat sawn white oak are often highly variable and can range from straight to curly and even wavy.
Rift cut white oak is made by cutting perpendicular to the growth rings of the tree, resulting in a straight and tight grain pattern with a unique linear pattern that is well-suited for modern and contemporary furniture.
Quarter sawn white oak, is cut at a 45-degree angle to the growth rings, resulting in a straight and linear grain with a distinctive flecking pattern known as medullary rays. The medullary rays are the result of light reflecting off the wood cells and give the wood a shimmering effect.
Rift and quarter sawn cuts are more stable than flat sawn and are also more time-consuming to produce. They are considered premium slices of timber and are more expensive than flat sawn timber.
In conclusion, there are subtle yet significant differences in the appearance of rift, quarter sawn, and flat sawn white oak due to how the wood is cut. Flat sawn white oak has large, swooping grain patterns, while rift cut results in straight and tight linear patterns, and quarter sawn has distinctive medullary rays.
Stories have been written and captured upon the surfaces of these transient grains. The whispers of rift, flat sawn, and quarter sawn will continue to echo in our pieces, each carrying the spirit of the craftsman's touch bound within the ethereal allure of White Oak.
Quarter Sawn
Rift & Quarter Sawn
Rift with some beautiful figure
Flat Sawn