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quartersawn oak vs. regular oak

16 years ago

Could someone explain what the difference is between quartersawn and regular oak in terms of how it actually looks. I know that it's cut differently, however, if you would put the two woods side by side (assuming that they have the same stain, finish) what is different?

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Comments (8)

revans1
16 years ago
Check out this link for a great description of the difference.

Here is a link that might be useful: link
hondagirl
Original Author
16 years ago
Lot's of great info.........thank you, revans1
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suska6184
16 years ago
hondagirl-

I'm sure you know what regular oak looks like, but to give you a pretty good visual of what quartersawn oak looks like, go to the fireplace forum. Sorry, I don't know how to provide you a link, but currently on the bottom of the 9th page there is a heading for fireplace pictures. Ours is posted, and one way we have described how the wood grain appears is "tiger striped".
hondagirl
Original Author
16 years ago
suska6184

Your fireplace is gorgeous and I love the color of the wood stain. Tell DH that he did a great job! Thanks for posting the picture.
north40mom
16 years ago
Hondagirl,

My flooring guy demonstrated the difference to me by showing me a sample of regular oak flooring next to quartersawn -- the regular oak has lots of what he called "cathedral arc-ing" -- swirls and arc patterns in the wood; the quartersawn had a more linear pattern. We ended up going with quartersawn for our floors, and it's beautiful. But we chose it because of its expansion pattern-- quartersawn tends to expand most up & down on the planks, regular oak side to side. We live in fairly harsh conditions (Saskatachewan) and didn't want a floor that was tight half the year and gapping the rest of the year. I don't know if you are looking at quartersawn oak for flooring, but if so, one consideration to bear in mind is that quartersawn floors must be finished on-site, and can't be purchased pre-finished (at least where we are that was the case).
grannysmith18
16 years ago
Just to put a little more spice in the mix, there is yet another type called rift cut, which is sometimes confused with quarter sawn.

North40mom is correct that the grain of regular cut oak has swirls and arcs. It's usually used for a rustic, more traditional look. The grain of quarter sawn oak has more of a thin linear pattern, the grain looks like lines drawn with a pencil, but it also has small "flecks," often in a butterfly pattern within the grain.

Rift cut is the most linear - like quartersawn but without the flecks. Rift cut and quartersawn are used to achieve a more contemporary, modern look.

I'm planning to get rift cut white oak for my base cabinets, and white lacquered cabinets for everthing else.

Are you looking for oak for cabinets or flooring?
User
16 years ago
Thanks for asking, and thanks for all the answers. I have been wondering that myself.
grannysmith18
16 years ago
Here's a website. If you scroll down you can see pictures of White Oak cut 3 ways.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wood grain pictures

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