Quartersawn oak: here's how the log is turned for the cuts
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This animation describes the process that Frank Miller Lumber uses to produce distinctive wood grain characteristics in quartered and rift lumber. To learn more about the beauty, stability and sustainability of Frank Miller quartersawn hardwoods, please visit www.frankmiller.com

Here are the eight steps to quarter sawing wood: 
  • The head saw operator employs a 120º high-tech scanner to determine the optimum position to make the first saw line in the log. Production information such as log count, board footage sawn and related statistics are captured by the log scanner.
  • The log is separated into quarters, or “quartered,” and moved to the resaw area. There, one of two re-saws slices alternating faces of the quartered log from the inside-out while turning it end-for-end on a carousel between each pass through the saw.
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  • Once cut from the quartered logs, these quartered boards are then subjected to the industry’s highest standards of quality assurance. A computerized optimizing edger cleans the edges of each board for maximum grade yield.
  • After each quartersawn board is double-end trimmed, the lumber flow continues to an advanced control system that provides length, width and thickness data to assist Frank Miller Lumber trained lumber inspectors in applying the proper grade to each board.
  • This system also tracks each board through the drying process, archiving its history for future reference along with accurate production and yield records.
  • Once measured and marked, the boards travel down the grading chain where they are stacked in designated bundles before going to the sticking department. There, profiled drying sticks are placed at 12 or 24 inch intervals on each layer of boards to allow air movement between layers while maintaining the lumber’s flatness during air and kiln drying.
  • The drying process can take from 35 days to as long as eight months, depending upon the species and thickness of the hardwood.
  • After pre-drying, the lumber is placed in a computer-operated kiln. Each kiln charge is electronically controlled to achieve a finished moisture content of between 6 and 8% per species and thickness.
  • After kiln drying, the hardwood boards are re-graded and sent to the warehouse for accurate identification and storage.  www.frankmiller.com

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