Replies

1. 
   patternmaker | Oct 15, 2004 06:38am | #1

   I am not an expert in this field,however I think that the grain pattern to which you refer,occurs most often on the faces of quarter sawn boards.Thank you,Mr.Croney,where ever you may be.

   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

   
   

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   Edited 10/14/2004 11:39 pm ET by Pat

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 07:39am | #2

   Here are a couple of snippets from Hoadley's book "Understanding Wood."

   • From the glossary:  "Ray flecks:  The conspicuous appearance of rays on an edge-grain surface."
   • In the chapter "Figure in Wood" -- "In quartersawn lumber or quarter-sliced veneer, the plane of cut is more or less 90 degrees to the growth rings.  Depending on the unevenness of the grain, the figure will be a parallel line pattern on the face of the board.  The distinctive appearance of the rays, which is known as ray fleck, may vary from the intricate cross-striping of cherry to the large, showy and lustrous rays of oak, known as silver grain."

   White oak is actually the one that I most associate with striking ray flecks. 

   If you're sorting through some lumber looking for this figure, keep in mind (Hoadley again):  "To reduce the size of ray flecks and yet produce an interesting pattern, woods such as lacewood and oak are sometimes cut just off the true radial...." (rift-cut or rift-sawn)  I have frequently found nicely figured oak (white) in the "plain sawn" pile because the sorters didn't look for this rift-sawn lumber.  I get it up to the counter, and the clerk says "Wow, that's quartersawn!"  I just smile and write the check at the plain-sawn rate.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   jackplane | Oct 15, 2004 04:33pm | #3

   They are known as medullary rays, unique to the oak family.

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 08:59pm | #4

   "...medullary rays, unique to the oak family."  Nope, sorry.  This thread has prompted me to do a bit of reading, and here's what I've found.  Medullary rays are tube-like structures that run radially within the trees.  Present in all trees, but too small to be seen in most.  Larger medullary rays are present in oak, ash, lacewood, American sycamore and maybe others I haven't found yet.  White oak's "flake" is the figure that most commonly comes to mind.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   jackplane | Oct 15, 2004 10:15pm | #6

   when I say oak family, I mean just that; oak,ash,chestnut,lacewood etc. They are not present in other woods. 

1. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 16, 2004 01:44am | #7

   Jack, medullary rays are indeed found in all trees.

   None of the trees you named, ash, chestnut, lacewood, etc, are of the Fagaceae family to which the oaks (Quercus species) belong. Slainte.RJFurniture

1. 
   jackplane | Oct 18, 2004 04:56pm | #8

   I stand corrected; I was taught that medullary rays(from parenchyma cell patterns) were unique to oak and similar species. After reading more on this, I see they're present even in eucalyptus and many other trees. Thanks to FG and Sgian for pointing that out.

   Edited 10/18/2004 10:02 am ET by JACKPLANE

4. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 09:27pm | #5

   David, to the second part of your question:  obtaining some quartersawn oak.  Any hardwood dealer should stock quartersawn white oak.  What's your reason for specifying red oak??  How much and what dimensions do you need?

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)