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Different-types-of-woodcuts

The 4 Different types of woodcuts | Which one is best for you?

September 24, 2021 //  by improve wood//  Leave a Comment

Logs of timber are hard to use in their natural form. Therefore, they need to be split into more manageable pieces. There are 4 basic types of woodcuts: plain sawn, rift sawn, live sawn,  and quarter sawn. We will discuss each method in detail below!

Different-types-of-woodcuts
the 4 main types of woodcuts

It’s, however, important to note that woodcuts may mean more than the aforementioned cuts and we have considered this. We will therefore be looking at, type of woodcuts inside the woodworking workshop. This will also include machine-specific cuts. as a bonus.

Different types of woodcuts from Log to Timber

Plain Sawn

– Plain Sawn timbers come straight off the log as opposed to live quarter cuts where the log is split into quarters first. This method is perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective. The blade goes through the log making parallel lines as shown below. In the different types of woodcuts discussed in this article Plain sawn is by far the most preferred by lumberjacks.

Most millers prefer this cut as it gives wide planks with minimal waste. The growth rings are cut tangentially giving the planks a common part that has become to be known as “Cathedral.” As beautiful as the cathedral pattern is plain sawn timber is prone to bow, cup or twist with time due to tension in the grains cut in tangential.

plain sawn timber
Art by improve wood

Characteristics of Plain Sawn timber

– The grain of the timber is very consistent with a straight, vertical orientation. This type of woodcut produces good patterns ideal for large surface work like dining table tops, doors, and flooring.

Advantages of Plain Sawn timber

-Aesthetically pleasing finish on both sides; more contrasting colors in select woods.

– Great for longboards, large pieces that are needed and desired

It- More economical in cost because it has minimal waste.

– Stronger finished product as there is less chance for gaps to form between them when glued together due to lack of knots within the timber.

Rift Sawn type of woodcut

– Rift Sawing is when logs or trees are sawed perpendicularly down the middle. This method produces the most waste as perpendicular to the annular rings sawn boards leaves a lot of triangular chunks of waste. It is however still preferred by artists and fine artisans who prefer it for its aesthetic and consistent grain pattern.

rift sawn wood cut
Art by Improvewood

Characteristics of rift sawn timber

Rift sawn timbers have straighter grains making them better at holding up against stresses like twisting and pressure from moisture over time. Trees with a more uniform diameter are used for this type of timber which means there is less risk of warping.

Rift sawn timber can be more difficult to work with, but this also means that it will last longer and allow you greater control when cutting or shaping the wood.

Advantages of rift sawn timber

Straighter grain means straighter boards. Rift sawn boards have a consistent grain pattern making it valuable to design artists.

On top of this Rift, Sawn timber has greater dimensional stability which means that it is less likely to warp or bow over time.

Check our article on how to archive straight edges with no planer

Live Sawn

Live Quarter is also called standing cut. This type of cutting does not produce a lot of waste because the tree remains intact on one side. The log will be split into quarters (thus the name) which are then further sliced for lumber sizes that are needed in carpentry.

plain sawn through and through
Art by Improvewood

 

Characteristics of live sawn timber

Live Sawn is a type of woodcut that has its own unique characteristics. The grain pattern, color spectrum, and natural variations in this wood make it an attractive option for flooring or cabinet pieces. It also allows you to see every layer in the board’s growth rings which ensures there are no gaps due to continual tree growth.

advantages of Live Sawn timber

Live Sawn has a few advantages that make it the ideal choice for countless projects over the other different types of woodcuts on our list. It is free of knots and possible cracks, which means you can use this timber for flooring or cabinet pieces without any worries about the wood splitting or breaking beneath your feet. Live Saw also allows you to see every layer in the board’s growth rings which ensures there are no gaps due to continual tree growth.

Quarter Sawn

– Finally, there are quarter sawed timbers where logs will be cut across the width of a tree so they can then be ripped apart easily. The board has a wavy grain pattern along its surface making them fantastic at resisting twisting and moisture problems over time like plain sawn timber but not quite as good as rift sawn due to being more prone to deflection and warping from contact with water.

quarter sawn wood cut types
Art by Improvewood

characteristics of Quartersawn timber

A quarter sawed timber has a wavy grain pattern along its surface making them fantastic at resisting twisting and moisture problems over time like plain sawn timber but not quite as good as rift sawn due to being more prone to deflection and warping from contact with water. They have a long straight line going through the center of the board called the quarter saw line.

The opposing angles of this line can cause problems with glue strength as they are more likely to contract and expand at different rates than plain sawn timber. This is why it may be better for smaller projects, such as cabinet work or cutting boards where surface appearance is not important but resistance against moisture damage over time and warping is a concern.

advantages of Quartersawn timber

The main advantage of quartersawn timber over the other different types of woodcuts mentioned above is that it is less likely to twist or warp due to moisture, as the wood fibers are oriented at an angle across the board.

This makes it especially good for smaller pieces such as cabinetwork and cutting boards where appearance does not matter but stability over time against warping or twisting is essential. The straight grain also makes it a good candidate for veneer work, since the grain will always be parallel to the surface.

Check our article on Carving Pine

Woodworking Basic Joints

Joinery is the process of joining two pieces of wood together to make a stronger, more durable object. There are many different types of joints that you can use for this purpose, depending on the type of joinery project that you are trying to create. You might know some of these cuts already – dovetails, dadoes, mortise and tenon joints are some examples. But there are also other joints that you might not have heard of before! In this article, we will take a look at the following joints.

Saddle Miter Joint

The saddle miter is a type of miter joint that is made from two pieces of wood cut on a slant. The pieces are then glued together with a solid back, and a small hole is drilled through the center to allow for sawdust removal during the cutting process. This design has some remarkable advantages over other types of joints that make it a popular choice among woodworkers.

Mortise and Tenon Joint

This joint is most commonly used in framing for doors, windows, and other openings. As with most joints, it’s important to leave a bit of extra room on all sides when cutting the mortise so the tenon will fit snugly. This joint is often made by hand-cutting with chisels or router bits, but it can also be glued together with wood glue and clamped until dry.

Through Tenon Joint

A through tenon joint is a mortise-and-tenon joint that passes completely through one piece of wood. The two pieces are held together with pegs, nails, or screws. Through tenons are often used in handrail construction to make it easier to install the railing because the thickness of the rails can be adjusted after installation without removing them from the posts.

butt-joint

The first type of joint is the butt joint. This type of joinery involves two pieces, one longer than the other. The long piece goes on top and the shorter piece becomes a “stick out” at either end. When using this technique, the glue must be used to keep it together ­ ensuring that no water gets into contact with any part of the wood for the risk of rotting it.

lap joints

Next in line are lap joints which involve three or more pieces coming together (usually) perpendicular to each other and glued together securely so they can’t move around or pull apart easily when pressure is applied from different directions while assembling them – such as would happen if someone were sitting down on a chair made out of these types of joints.

This type of joint is used when joining together some pieces that are a different size than the other, or if for whatever reason one piece needs to be shorter than the rest (like with chair rungs). The two sides to this kind of joinery have to be cut at an angle which means that you’ll need a saw and jig-saw blade (or table saw) ­ because these types of blades can make cuts angled in any direction.

dowels

The third basic woodworking joint would be doweling – where sometimes “dowels” are inserted into holes drilled through both boards being joined together so they won’t shift out from their position over time due not only to weight but also heat changes inside your woodworking project. ­

dovetail

The fourth basic woodworking joint is a dovetail which usually makes for interesting, decorative joints and is commonly found in cases where you want to have full-length drawers that will open up without the risk of coming out (due to gravity).

Half-Lap Joint

The last basic type of joints for this article are Half-Lap joints. This type of joint is used to join two pieces of wood together that are the same width, but different thicknesses. This allows you to create a relatively strong connection between the two pieces without adding any additional materials or fasteners.

The Half-Lap Joint can be created by either halving one piece and then joining it with another similarly shaped piece or by halving two pieces and then joining the halves together.

Half-Lap joints are used to join wood that is of similar width, but different thicknesses. They can be created in one of two ways – either halfing a single piece and then attaching it with another similarly shaped piece OR by simply using both halves from each original board – as shown below:

In this example, I am using the Half-Lap joint on boards that were ripped into thin strips for use as edging. The result is a clear connection between them without any additional material needed!

As always, please feel free to ask us questions about any other types of joints in woodworking via email – we’ll do our best!

Frequently Asked Questions on Woodcuts

What is the best tool to cut wood?

The best tool to cut wood is a saw, but other tools can be used as well. The type of saw you need will depend on the size and thickness of your logs or boards. You may also have some lumber already milled for you at Home Depot or Lowe’s. They might sell it by board foot or by linear foot.

How can I cut wood at home without a saw?

You can cut wood at home without a saw by using other tools. A simple pair of handsaw and some patience is all you need to get the job done.
That being said, there are more advanced ways to do this if you don’t want to be doing it for hours on end or have trouble with your shoulders from time to time after making cuts in long periods of time.
You can use a power drill (you may not even know that they make them specifically for cutting wood!), an angle grinder, abrasive discs like sandpaper designed specifically for metal or steel surfaces, but these will cost you much more than just buying a new chainsaw or hand tool would when needed again down the road.

What’s the easiest way to cut wood?

If you need to cut the wood into curved shapes and have access to a band saw, then this will be your best choice for an easy cut.
But if you’re looking for a more traditional shape or simply want something easier than using hand tools like knives or axes (which are not recommended), then opting for the use of blades with rotating handles that run on electricity can make cutting wood much easier.
This includes radial saws as they work from round discs rather than flat pieces which makes it difficult to produce curves in one continuous motion.

How can I cut wood without a power tool?

There are a few different ways you can cut wood without the aid of power tools. One way is to use a saw blade pulled by hand, which will take quite some time and your arms may go numb after a while.
Another option would be using an ax with an old-school grip for better leverage or a crosscut saw powered by your body weight and rhythm.
This method requires two people working together to increase efficiency but it does come in handy if you’re out camping and need firewood on short notice!

What are the 5 basic woodworking cuts?

The five basic woodworking cuts are rip cut, crosscut, beveled or angled cut, chiseled or pushed cut, and rabbeted edge. The first four of these can all be accomplished using a handsaw like the traditional backsaw, but for more precise work you’ll want to use a miter box saw (miter saw).

What kind of cuts can a table saw make?

A table saw is a stationary power tool that’s used for cutting wood. The most common types of cuts made by the table are rip cuts and crosscuts, but you can also make beveled or compound (both angled) rip cut and crosscutting combinations. Table saws are capable of making long, straight-line cuts; they can also be used for making intricate, curved cuts in wood. See more about table saws here 

Table saws are available in two basic designs: a “rip-cut” design that is more suited to cutting with the grain of the wood and is usually less expensive than a “cross-cut” design that cuts across the grain but does not make as smooth an edge.

Category: Wood

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