In order to overcome this tendency to warp, another method of sawing has been devised. This method also adds great beauty to the appearance of the boards by exposing the medullary rays. This method is called quarter sawing. It takes its name partly from the fact that, in the process of sawing, the log is usually cut into quarters as the first operation. There are a number of different methods of quarter sawing, but they all have the same purpose in view, that of cutting the boards as nearly as possible in a direct line from the bark to the heart. The following illustration shows four different methods of quarter sawing:

Methods Of Quarter Sawing

Figure A represents the method which makes each board perfectly quartered. By studying this illustration you will observe that this is a very wasteful method, because there are so many wedge-shaped pieces that cannot be used. The method shown in Section B produces fairly good results, but is not so perfect as shown in Figure A. This is also a wasteful method on account of the great number of small pieces left. The method shown in Section C produces very good quartered effect, although you will observe there are a good many boards which are not cut directly from the bark to the heart. This is one of the more common methods of producing quartered oak lumber. The irregular pieces left at the corners are usually cut into stock of some other character.

Illustration D represents still another method of quartering; it does not produce perfect effects and is rather troublesome to do.

You should keep in mind the fact that quartering is a method of sawing, and that it is in no way related to any particular kind of timber. Any sort of log can be quartered, although oak, which is our chief cabinet wood, is the most familiar. This is an excellent method of sawing any kind of wood which has an unusual tendency to warp. It would no doubt be in more common use if it were not for the fact that it necessitates some trouble and waste in handling the material.