Flat-sawn v. Quarter-sawn - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Flat-sawn v. Quarter-sawn

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Flat-sawn v. Quarter-sawn

Wasatch Whaler posted 01-02-2009 09:46 AM ET (US)
I'm about to start the interior replacement project on my 15' Sport. I've found some mahogany locally that I may purchase. It is african mahogany (or Khaya) and I have the choice of flat sawn or quarter sawn. There are several CW regulars who are wood experts and I'd appreciate their thoughts on both the species and the flat- v. quarter-sawn.
Ridge Runner posted 01-02-2009 11:13 AM ET (US)
The quarter sawn boards will generally have less shrinkage when drying. The way the cells are aligned will cause the quarter sawn board to shrink a little bit in width and very little in thickness. Quarter sawn boards are also much less prone to warping. Quarter-sawn wood is the strongest cut of wood that you can get. Quarter sawn has the growth rings of the tree approximately perpendicular to the board's surface. Quarter sawn wood has the straightest grain, and is used for premium boards.

Tom W Clark posted 01-02-2009 06:36 PM ET (US)
Jay,
Joe's answer is mostly accurate.
Ceteris paribus, the quarter sawn (vertical grained) lumber will be stiffer for the thwart seats because the grain is aligned vertically.
The reality of lumber is that to get a quarter sawn plank, the log it comes from it usually bigger and better. Quarter sawn is considered a premium grade.
The bottom line for you is to choose the wood you like looking at the best. I am sure they could both be perfectly adequate for your needs. There is a lot more to a plank resisting warping than just the grain orientation so every board needs to judged on its own merits.
One thing that Whaler used to do, at least while they we doing all their own woodwork in-house, was to test each and every wooden thwart seat they made for deflection under load. They would apply a load test to the thwart seat and see if it bent too much. If it did or if it broke, it was scrapped. Those were the days!
Wasatch Whaler posted 01-03-2009 10:41 AM ET (US)
Joe and Tom,
Thanks for the replies.
I'll see what they have in stock, and go from there.
TransAm posted 01-03-2009 12:21 PM ET (US)
This video provides a nice primer on different cuts of wood. If you have an opportunity to specify, quartersawn or riftsawn would work best for marine applications, and probably look the best as well.
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Materials/MaterialsArticle. aspx?id=28324
nauticallumber posted 01-09-2009 10:42 PM ET (US)
.....stick with what came in your boat originaly, mixed grain...rift cut. For your application you'll never notice a difference by putting in qt. sawn or ribbon grain material.
Mike Stennett
Nautical Lumber Co
www.nauticallumber.com
deepwater posted 01-11-2009 09:07 AM ET (US)
TransAm,,nice link thanks
Wasatch Whaler posted 01-12-2009 09:46 AM ET (US)
Thanks for all of the great replies and information.
I bought the Mahogany the other day. 5/4 for the thwarts, 4/4 for the console and side rails.
We sorted through two large stacks of lumber to pick out the "perfect" boards. I was very impressed with their selection, customer service and pricing.
I'm excited to get the interior completed this winter/early spring!


Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Flat-sawn v. Quarter-sawn
Wasatch Whaler	posted 01-02-2009 09:46 AM ET (US) I'm about to start the interior replacement project on my 15' Sport. I've found some mahogany locally that I may purchase. It is african mahogany (or Khaya) and I have the choice of flat sawn or quarter sawn. There are several CW regulars who are wood experts and I'd appreciate their thoughts on both the species and the flat- v. quarter-sawn.
Ridge Runner	posted 01-02-2009 11:13 AM ET (US) The quarter sawn boards will generally have less shrinkage when drying. The way the cells are aligned will cause the quarter sawn board to shrink a little bit in width and very little in thickness. Quarter sawn boards are also much less prone to warping. Quarter-sawn wood is the strongest cut of wood that you can get. Quarter sawn has the growth rings of the tree approximately perpendicular to the board's surface. Quarter sawn wood has the straightest grain, and is used for premium boards.
Tom W Clark	posted 01-02-2009 06:36 PM ET (US) Jay, Joe's answer is mostly accurate. Ceteris paribus, the quarter sawn (vertical grained) lumber will be stiffer for the thwart seats because the grain is aligned vertically. The reality of lumber is that to get a quarter sawn plank, the log it comes from it usually bigger and better. Quarter sawn is considered a premium grade. The bottom line for you is to choose the wood you like looking at the best. I am sure they could both be perfectly adequate for your needs. There is a lot more to a plank resisting warping than just the grain orientation so every board needs to judged on its own merits. One thing that Whaler used to do, at least while they we doing all their own woodwork in-house, was to test each and every wooden thwart seat they made for deflection under load. They would apply a load test to the thwart seat and see if it bent too much. If it did or if it broke, it was scrapped. Those were the days!
Wasatch Whaler	posted 01-03-2009 10:41 AM ET (US) Joe and Tom, Thanks for the replies. I'll see what they have in stock, and go from there.
TransAm	posted 01-03-2009 12:21 PM ET (US) This video provides a nice primer on different cuts of wood. If you have an opportunity to specify, quartersawn or riftsawn would work best for marine applications, and probably look the best as well. http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Materials/MaterialsArticle. aspx?id=28324
nauticallumber	posted 01-09-2009 10:42 PM ET (US) .....stick with what came in your boat originaly, mixed grain...rift cut. For your application you'll never notice a difference by putting in qt. sawn or ribbon grain material. Mike Stennett Nautical Lumber Co www.nauticallumber.com
deepwater	posted 01-11-2009 09:07 AM ET (US) TransAm,,nice link thanks
Wasatch Whaler	posted 01-12-2009 09:46 AM ET (US) Thanks for all of the great replies and information. I bought the Mahogany the other day. 5/4 for the thwarts, 4/4 for the console and side rails. We sorted through two large stacks of lumber to pick out the "perfect" boards. I was very impressed with their selection, customer service and pricing. I'm excited to get the interior completed this winter/early spring!