Vertical grain? (Woodshop 101)

[jlapratt]

Can someone please explain "vertical" and "straight" grains? As I understand it, quartersawing lumber results in vertical grain. When looking at the end of the board, the grain should run 60-90° to the edge, or a pattern like:
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And I think that straight grain means the grain runs in a relatively straight line.

Please take me to Woodshop 101 and not the woodshed!!!

[Jamie Hascall]

I don't think you need to have any explaining done. You've pretty well got it. A board sawn "on the quarter" produces a "vertical grain" (VG) board which from my understanding would be synonymous with "quarter sawn" just as you've drawn it. Straight grain says to me that the grain runs parallel to the axis of the board without "runout" or divergence from that line. (That one may get me in trouble but we'll see).

Jamie

[Mike Keers]

Yup, the QS/VG issue is covered. I have to agree that to my understanding, 'straight grain' refers to a board with nice, even, well, 'straight' grain. The other type of sawing, where the rays run across the width of the board, is called 'flat sawn'.

[ken mcclure]

Straight grain refers to the face of the board. For instance, curly maple does not have straight grain.

As to quartersawn, you've got it. Note that when a log is flat-sawn into boards (called "flitches") the board that contains the center of the log can be ripped down the middle into two boards that are, for all intents and purposes, quarter sawn.

Sometimes if I need some cheap quartersawn lumber, I go pick through the stack and look for the boards that came out of the tree that way. Quartersawn doug fir at economy stud prices.