Quartersawn Lumber

Quartersawn Lumber in Los Angeles

Quartersawn lumber is cut so the annual growth rings run roughly perpendicular to the face of the board, and that single difference in milling changes everything about how the wood looks, moves, and performs. The result is tighter grain patterns, significantly less seasonal expansion and contraction, reduced cupping and warping, and in certain species, striking figure like the ray fleck in white oak or the ribbon stripe in mahogany. For furniture makers, luthiers, cabinet shops, and finish carpenters who demand the best behavior and appearance from their material, quartersawn is worth every penny. At House of Hardwood, we carry quartersawn lumber in select species for woodworkers, builders, and craftspeople across Los Angeles.

Our Quartersawn Lumber Selection

Quartersawn white oak is our most consistently stocked option, and for good reason. It is the defining species of Arts & Crafts and Mission-style furniture and cabinetry, and the prominent medullary ray fleck that quartersawing reveals in white oak is one of the most recognizable grain patterns in woodworking. We also carry quartersawn material in other species on a rotating basis depending on what our suppliers have available. Quartersawn walnut is available as a special order for projects that call for the rich dark tones of walnut with the added stability and tighter grain of a quarter-sawn cut. Because quartersawn lumber yields fewer boards per log than flat-sawn, availability in specific species, thicknesses, and widths can change quickly. For projects that require a particular species or volume, let our team know early and we can source exactly what you need.

Why Woodworkers Choose Quartersawn Lumber

• Superior dimensional stability - Quartersawn boards expand and contract roughly half as much across their width as flat-sawn boards, making them the best choice for wide tabletops, panel doors, drawer fronts, and any application where seasonal wood movement could cause problems
• Reduced warping and cupping - The vertical grain orientation resists the cupping and twisting that flat-sawn boards are prone to, which means flatter panels, tighter joints, and less material waste over the life of a project
• Distinctive figure and grain - Quartersawing unlocks visual characteristics that flat-sawn lumber simply cannot produce, including the dramatic medullary ray fleck in white oak, ribbon stripe in mahogany and sapele, and the tight linear grain prized in instrument tops and high-end millwork
• Better wear surface - The edge grain orientation exposed by quartersawing wears more evenly and resists denting better than the face grain on flat-sawn boards, which is why it has long been preferred for flooring, stair treads, and countertops
• Ideal for instrument building - Luthiers rely on quartersawn tops for acoustic guitars, ukuleles, and other stringed instruments because the vertical grain transmits sound more efficiently and responds more consistently across the soundboard

Sizing

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Here at the House Of Hardwood, we sell most of our lumber by volume, using Board Feet.

Volume = Thickness" x Width" x Length" / 144 = bf

Importantly, the hardwood measuring system bases the thickness based on rough cutting done at the lumber mill, so all fractions indicate the ROUGH thickness.

We sell our hardwood S2S (Surfaced 2 Sides) – This means the boards have been planed down from their rough cut form to be flat. The edges are still not straight at this point, but we can straighten them up for you!

This S2S operation removes 3/16" therefore it is important to note net thicknesses:

Rough Thickness	Net Thickness (S2S)
4/4 Lumber	13/16"
5/4 Lumber	1 1/16"
6/4 Lumber	1 5/16"
8/4 Lumber	1 13/16"
10/4 Lumber	2 5/16"
12/4 Lumber	2 13/16"
16/4 Lumber	3 13/16"