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.
Riftsawn legs look the same on every face — perfect for a chair.
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.
A cut where annual rings run perpendicular to the face. Shows straight grain and, in oak, dramatic ray fleck. Most stable; expensive yield.