Rift and Quartered Lumber & Flooring

Most people do not know the difference between Rift and Quartered, and Plain Sawn.

Plain Sawn Technique

(Top Half)

Quarter sawing produces both Rift and Quartered

(Bottom Half)

Rift lumber is lumber where by the growth rings are 30° to 60°. Plain sawn lumber has growth rings that are less the 30°.

By definition, Quartered Sawn lumber produces lumber where by the growth rings are positioned at a 60° to 90° angle.

98% of the lumber produced in the world in plain sawn, which may make quartered sawn lumber mills seem small; However there are more than 4000 sawmills in the United States alone. Of the 2% that is produced, Taylor Lumber is the largest by far.

The most obvious characteristic of quarter sawn lumber is the type of grain pattern produced. By quarter sawing, the saw actually splits the medullary ray, causing the ray to appear shiny or reflective. (The German term for this is "Spiegel Shnitt" or "Mirror Cut".) The rift board does not have this shiny characteristic. It does produce vertical grain - usually used in a more contemporary setting specified by architects.

Appearance is not the only reason why quartered sawn is sought after. It also:

• Does not shrink or swell in width (ideal for flooring in extreme conditions in High Traffic, Pubs, and Other Public Places)
• Reduces twisting, warping and cup.
• Wears less in flooring application.
• Does not surface check or split.
• Produces a better paint surface.

As described, quarter sawing is more of an art than plain sawing. Quarter sawing takes larger logs to saw this product, more production time in sawing each "quarter", all of which equates to a premium price.

The reason why 98% of mills do not sell quartered sawn is because of the technical skills and patience needed.

Most mills pull quartered sawn from their normal plain sawing production, resulting in very inconsistent colors and grain patterns.

Taylor Lumber has been sawing since 1889. Taylor Lumber is the largest producer in the world of Rift and Quartered Sawn. Inventing and perfecting the grading of quartered sawn with a revolutionary grade named J-class, which guarantees 95% to 100% figure in quartered boards and 95% to 100% vertical grain in rift boards.

Try Taylor Lumber stock today. You'll find out what everybody's talking about.