08/23/2017

What is the difference between Plain Sawn, Quarter Sawn, Rift Sawn and Live Sawn Lumber?

When lumber is cut from logs for custom cabinetry, it is typically cut in one of three ways: quarter sawn, rift sawn or plain sawn. Each type of lumber is dependent on how the log is oriented and cut at the sawmill. The result is a particular orientation of the growth rings on the end grain of the board and is what defines the type of lumber. The type of cut also determines the figure in a piece of wood cabinet and the wood’s mechanical properties.

Sound too confusing? This graphic will help…

 

 

PLAIN SAWN / FLAT SAWN

Most common, least expensive

Plain sawn, also commonly called flat sawn, is the most common lumber you will find in cabinetry. This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber. Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut. The annular rings are generally 30 degrees or less to the face of the board; this is often referred to as tangential grain. The resulting wood displays a striking cathedral grain pattern on the face of the cabinets, creates very little waste during production, and is easy to find in most wood species.

 

 

PLAIN SAWN ADVANTAGES

Appearance and Style

  • Cathedral Grain: Features bold, arched, and wavy patterns that look traditional and busy.
  • High Variation: No two cabinet doors or drawer fronts share the exact same look.
  • Design Fit: Great for rustic, farmhouse, or classic home styles that celebrate natural wood movement

 

Cost and Availability

  • Low price: It is the least expensive cut because the milling process is fast and simple.
  • High yield: Sawmills get more usable wood out of every log with minimal waste.
  • Wide boards: It provides wider planks than quarter-sawn or rift-sawn methods, reducing the need to glue multiple narrow strips together for large cabinet panels.
  • Easy to buy: Most cabinet shops stock plain-sawn wood as their standard option.

 

Visual Appearance

  • Cathedral patterns: It shows bold, sweeping, and wavy arch patterns (cathedral grains) on the cabinet face.
  • Visual movement: It offers a lively, natural, and traditional look full of distinct character.

 

 

QUARTER SAWN

More expensive than plain sawn material

Quarter sawn wood in cabinetry refers to a log cutting method where the log is quartered and sliced perpendicular to the growth rings. This produces a straight, linear grain pattern with unique, reflective “ray fleck” or “tiger stripe” markings, exceptional dimensional stability, and high resistance to warping.

Quarter sawn wood has an amazing straight grain pattern that lends itself to design. Quarter sawn lumber is defined as wood where the annular growth rings intersect the face of the board at a 60 to 90 degree angle. When cutting this lumber at the sawmill, each log is sawed at a radial angle into four quarters, hence the name. Dramatic flecking is also present in red oak and white oak.

 

QUARTER SAWN ADVANTAGES

Quarter sawn wood has an amazing straight grain pattern that lends itself to design. Often used for flooring, high-end custom cabinetry and furniture, it is the traditional wood used in making mission style furniture. Other wood species that are sought after in quarter sawn are walnut, maple and cherry.

In addition to the desirable grain pattern this type of wood is some of the most dimensionally stable, making it ideal to work with. Quarter sawn lumber exhibits almost no twisting, warping and cupping. It is more resistant to moisture penetration and less prone to surface checking and raised grain.

More dimensionally stable and beautiful to look at? “Is there a downside to it?,” you ask. Well, yes. Because the manufacturing process results in a lower yield and is more labor intensive to produce quarter sawn lumber, the cost is higher. There is also a more limited supply because a smaller number of sawmills produce it.

 

 

Characteristics

  • Straight Grain: Lines run straight down the board instead of forming wild “cathedral” arches.
  • Ray Flecks: Distinctive light-reflecting flakes or ribbon-like figures appear across the grain (especially prominent in white oak).
  • High Stability: Boards shrink, expand, and warp much less with changes in humidity.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: Extremely durable, highly stable in humid kitchens, and features a rich, high-end, timeless look.
  • Cons: More expensive and harder to find than plain-sawn wood because the cutting process creates more waste and lower log yields.

 

 

RIFT SAWN

Most expensive, least common

Rift sawn cabinetry features wood milled at a 30-to-60-degree angle to the growth rings, producing a clean, straight, vertical grain with no dramatic cathedral patterns or random flecks. It is highly prized for high-end modern kitchen designs due to its sleek, uniform look and structural stability.

Rift sawn wood is manufactured by milling perpendicular to the log’s growth rings producing a linear grain pattern with no flecking. This method produces the most waste, increasing the cost of this lumber. Rift sawn lumber is very dimensionally stable and has a unique linear appearance.

Rift sawn lumber is typically narrow with a very straight grain pattern on the face of the board. Rift sawn lumber is usually used with oak to avoid the flecks that are common in the species. The annular rings or a rift sawn board are about 30-60 degrees to the face of the board, but 45 degrees is the most optimum. Similar to quarter sawn lumber, rift sawn lumber is also referred to as radial grain. The most stable boards, and also the most wasteful to produce, are rift sawn planks. Each of these boards is cut radially perpendicular to the growth rings of the tree. There are large triangles of waste left from between each board. As a result, rift sawn lumber is costly to produce and therefore, the most expensive type of planks available from a log.

 

 

 

 

RIFT SAWN ADVANTAGES

Produces the strongest possible boards with the most consistent visual look of long and straight grain patterns. Generally the choice of cut for fine furniture makers looking for consistent patterns throughout their design.

 

Key Characteristics

  • Linear Grain: Displays tight, parallel, vertical lines without wild movement.
  • High Stability: Resists warping, twisting, and shrinking when exposed to changing kitchen humidity.
  • Even Finishing: Absorbs stains and clear coats uniformly due to the consistent grain structure.
  • Premium Cost: Costs 25% to 30% more than standard plain sawn lumber because the cutting process creates more waste

 

Pros of Rift-Sawn Cabinetry

  • Clean Aesthetic: Delivers a uniform, linear, and subtle grain look that fits modern, Scandinavian, and minimalist kitchen designs.
  • Dimensional Stability: The vertical grain orientation reduces the risk of warping, cupping, or twisting as humidity and temperature change. 
  • No Wild Patterns: Lacks the busy “cathedral” shapes found in plain-sawn wood or the dramatic “ray fleck” patterns found in quarter-sawn wood.

 

Cons of Rift-Sawn Cabinetry

  • Higher Cost: Costs 25% to 30% or more than plain-sawn lumber because the specialized milling process creates a high amount of waste.
  • Limited Availability: Low manufacturing yields mean longer lead times and harder sourcing from local mills or cabinet makers.
  • Risk of Mixed Grades: Because true rift-sawn wood is scarce, some suppliers mix in lower-cost plain or quarter-sawn pieces, which disrupts the uniform look.

 

 

LIVE SAWN MILLING

Most efficient, blended mix of all cuts

Live sawn milling is the most efficient way to cut a log into planks and it is a newer milling method than the others and is not used in cabinetry. Each plank is cut straight off of the log in one direction without changing the orientation of the log. This method produces boards with a full range of angles of the log’s rings, also known as the log’s “grain”. The names of these angles can get pretty technical, but we will spare you the details – the angles range from 0 to 90 degrees or so. Live sawn planks include a full range of the log’s characteristics, from the sought-after heartwood where the ring patterns are tightest to the sapwood.

 

LIVE SAWN ADVANTAGES

Live sawing is a highly efficient milling technique that slices straight across the log. Because it captures every angle of the growth rings—from 0 to 90 degrees—each board tells the complete “story” of the tree.

  • Grain Variety: Displays a striking blend of cathedral arches (plain sawn), linear straight lines (rift sawn), and distinctive flecking (quarter sawn) all in one piece. 
  • Natural Character: Includes a rich mix of heartwood and sapwood with natural knots and color variations.
  • Stability: Retains better dimensional stability than standard plain sawn wood because of the high percentage of mixed rift and quartered grains within the planks.

 

Pros and Cons for Cabinetry

Live Sawn lumber is not used in custom cabinetry because live sawn lumber changes both the aesthetic and the budget of your project.

Cons of Live-Sawn Cabinetry

  • Visual: High visual variation means individual cabinet doors can look quite different from one another.
  • Busy Grain Variation: Can feel too busy or rustic for sleek, minimalist, or contemporary spaces. 

 

 

 

What’s Next?

Choosing kitchen cabinetry is one of the most important decisions in any kitchen renovation project. As you weigh your options between pre-made, semi-custom, and custom cabinetry, take your time to decide which choice is ideally suited to you.

Pre-made cabinets offer more in terms of budget and immediate availability, while custom cabinets offer greater design flexibility, better design options, and superior quality. Semi-custom is the bridge between the two. Time to get out that old pen and paper, and with the information provided in this article, write out a pros and cons list of your own.

 

No matter what your decision and budget, we’re here for you at Grandior. With over 20 years of experience to our name, we provide our clients with a wholly customized experience with our talented team of designers.

Visit us at our Hunt Valley, MD showroom or request a consultation to get started on your dream remodel today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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