How do mountain grain and straight grain patterns come about? A basic explanation of four wood cutting methods

many people choose solid wood furniture and only focus on the appearance of the wood grain at first glance.

However, most people don't know that the pattern on the surface of the board is not the natural shape of the tree.

The interior of a log consists of rings of annual growth rings. Changing the cutting angle can create drastically different textures.

4 mainstream log cutting methods:

▫️ Rotary cutting: Continuous, flowing wood grain, mostly used for veneers and decorative panels.

▫️ Radial cutting: Cutting through the heartwood, creating regular straight grain, resulting in better board stability.

▫️ Split cutting: Directional rotational cutting, easily creating uniform straight grain.

▫️ Tangential cutting: The most common cutting method, creating classic and timeless mountain grain patterns. Important misconceptions when buying solid wood:

Don't judge the quality of wood solely based on the grain.

The grain is just a visual effect of the cut surface.

Choosing solid wood requires a comprehensive consideration of wood stability and drying process.