also known as: plainsawn, plain sawn
A cut where annual rings run roughly parallel to the face of the board. Shows cathedral grain on the face. Cheapest yield from a log; moves most across the face.
Flatsawn boards are the cheapest yield but move the most across the face.
A cut where annual rings run perpendicular to the face. Shows straight grain and, in oak, dramatic ray fleck. Most stable; expensive yield.
A cut where annual rings run at 30–60° to the face. Shows straight grain on all four faces, making it ideal for chair and table legs.
Shrinkage across the annual rings — the wide dimension of a flatsawn board. Always greater than radial shrinkage; usually about twice as much.