Why Do Carpenters Saw Wood With The Grain And Not Against The Grain?

1. 79

   ngurecoposted 15 years ago

   Why Do Carpenters Saw Wood With The Grain And Not Against The Grain?
   
   What Does “Saw Against The Grain” Expression Mean?

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2. 80

   sarovaiposted 15 years ago

   Along the grains allows you to cut fast and it will not leaveout the fibre. As such the tree growing side if you cut the pattern what you are going to get is excellent.
   
   Main thing cutting along the grains, the blade will not get blunt so easily.

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3. 59

   gsaugheyposted 15 years ago

   There are two ways to cut wood - with and against the grain. The basic answer to you question is:
   
   Ripping is the method used to cut with the grain.  The reason to cut along the grain is usually to cut a piece of wood to the approximate width.
   
   Crosscutting is the method used to cut across the grain. The reason to cut across the grain is to cut a piece of wood to the approximate length.
   
   I hope that helps.

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4. 61

   heart4thewordposted 15 years ago

   I understand in some cases, cutting against the grain, you have to be more careful, for the saw not to kick back on you.  A carpenter would know better, if this is true:)

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5. 64

   Manna in the wildposted 15 years ago

   All the answers so far miss the point. It's easier to cut across the grain as your saw needs only to break the fibers. Along the grain generates heat and a long curly fiber so you need a large-tooth saw and a means of getting rid of the heat. Ripping as it's called, is more difficult than a cross cut. But the real point about ripping wood from trees is that's how you get a strong plank or board. If you cross cut, then the resulting plank would be very weak and not a lot of pressure is needed to break a plank across the grain. Besides, a long plank can only come from a cut up the trunk. As for the grain or pattern, there are two main ways to cut a tree. You can look up those patterns on the internet, but to paraphrase here, one method produces a nice grain but more waste, and the other method is more economical. One of the ways tends to produce boards that can easily warp due to asymmetric shrinking caused by different radius cut through the growth rings one one side of the board compared to the other. For this reason, a cabinet maker will bond boards with alternate smiling and frowning grain to make a table top. The opposing pressures cancel each other out.
   
   One time at least where you find cross cut is for a thick topped cutting board or bench for a butcher. The end grain of a hard close-grained wood resists cuts from a knife better than along the grain of a ripped plank.

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6. 60

   turnerbobposted 14 years ago

   Carpenters saw with the grain AND across the grain so the question is in error.
   As to your subtitle What Does “Saw Against The Grain” Expression Mean? That means sawing across (perpendicular) to the grain.

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7. 61

   avoiceofone18posted 14 years ago

   I think you demonstrate why it is important to read the question for clues. Within the question itself, exist the wisdom for answering this question. Carpenters are professional or skilled craftsmen, They saw wood with the grain, because it is the most effective and efficient manner for sawing the wood without compromising the precision of the cut or measurement and to effectively reduce material loss. Its the process of working smarter, rather than harder.
   "Sawing against the grain", is the expression that means working against oneself; not getting the most out of one's effort, thus production is compromised. Simple logic that serves as powerful life lessons!

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8. 66

   PhoenixVposted 13 years ago

   One way causes the wood to "splinter" more than the other way.

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