Wood Cuts: Explore The Beauty of Wood Slab Grains and Styles

Wooden tables have captivated a lot of people for centuries and their appeal continues to attract customers today. It’s proven with the demand for wooden tables that remains consistently high, especially due to their association with luxury and elegance.

As a first-time customer who’s interested in purchasing a wooden table, you might find yourself pondering which wood cuts will suit your needs. It’s especially true as each cut of wood embodies different characteristics, which might confuse you even more.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about wood cuts that we specialise in. Understanding these cuts will enable you to have wooden tables that align with your preferences and requirements, aside from the wood type choice (e.g., Suar, Tamarind, Mahogany, and more)

Continue reading and immerse yourself in the world of wood cuts.

Getting Started: What are Wood Cuts?

Wood cuts are pieces of boards obtained by slicing or sawing a tree log. These wood cuts serve as the foundation for a wide range of wood tables, such as dining tables, coffee tables, computer desks, and more.

In addition, wood cuts will show different grains and patterns depending on the sawing direction. On another occasion, different wood cuts have different widths, which you should keep in mind, particularly if you want to have wooden tables made of a single wood slab.

Therefore, understanding multiple wood cuts produced from various sawing methods helps you to make more informed decisions on your wood tables. You can be at peace of mind knowing that your tables align with your needs and requirements.

Cuts of Wood Based on Sawing Techniques: How Many Are There?

As previously mentioned, wood cuts consist of boards obtained from tree log sawing. Each sawing technique yields unique boards with distinct characteristics in terms of grains and patterns.

Now you might wonder, how many wood cuts are there? And how exactly do these differing sawing techniques impact the wooden tables you desire to purchase?

In the following we’ll provide you with four types of wood cuts, obtained from different sawing techniques employed by the majority of woodworkers:

Live Sawn

A live sawn piece of wood is produced by cutting a tree log straight through without rotating it. The live sawing technique produces cuts of wood with maximum widths since the log is sliced horizontally from one face to the opposite face.

Aside from producing pieces of boards at maximum widths, the live sawing method also yields highly aesthetically pleasing grains and patterns that can complete the overall look and feel of your space. Wooden tables made from live-sawn timber show a combination of cathedral, fleck, and linear grains in a single board.

Live sawn timber should be your choice if you want to have a large wood slab with the most natural looks. The distinctive grain patterns achieved through live sawing create visually appealing and authentic wood slabs, showcasing the true beauty of the wood.

Plain Sawn

A plain sawn wood is cut perpendicular to the growth rings, starting from the outside to the inside of the tree log. As a result, the end grains have 0 to 35 degrees of growth rings to the surface, producing arch and cathedral grains.

At a glance, plain-sawn grains may look similar to live-sawn timber. However, the arch and cathedral grains are more prominent in plain-sawn boards as a result of the cutting direction.

Plain sawn wood is the best material for making a variety of alluring wooden tables. Examples of tables you can get from plain-sawn timber include a computer desk, coffee table, bedside table, and more. 

Rift Sawn

A rift sawn timber is obtained by cutting the log along a 45-degree angle relative to the growth rings. The log is divided into four sections, known as a quadrant division, which will show straight and uniform grains on the table surface.

For this reason, rift-sawn timber makes an ideal material if you wish to have a wooden table with straight grains aesthetic appeal. The straight grains add a clean and sleek ambience to your home, which you can also easily fit with any decor style.

Quarter Sawn

Quarter sawn wood, as the name implies, is obtained by first cutting a tree log into quarters. Each quarter will be subsequently cut into multiple boards, showcasing 60 to 90 degrees of growth rings from the surface.

Due to the slicing direction, quarter sawn timber will result in straight and uniform grains with a touch of flecks. This unique pattern looks appealing when used as a material for wooden tables, giving a sense of natural wood beauty.

Hence quarter sawn timber makes a perfect table that complements your home interior. Examples of tables you can get from quarter sawn timber include dining tables, coffee tables, and bedside tables, among others. 

Live Sawn and Live Edge: What’s The Difference?

Although live sawn and live edge simultaneously use the term ‘live’, they have different meanings. Let’s figure out how these two differ from each other so you’ll be able to find the perfect style for your table!

For starters, live sawn is a cutting method where a tree log is sliced into boards by making consecutive cuts straight from one face to the other. This technique produces a variety of grain patterns–cathedral, fleck, and linear–within a wood cut.

On the other hand, live edge refers to the natural, unfinished edge of a piece of wood that retains the original outer shape of a tree log. Irregular shapes and contours are both present in a live edge board, creating a rustic charm to the final wooden products, especially tables. 

In a nutshell, live sawn is a cutting technique that aims to produce rich grain patterns within a single board. Whereas the live edge indicates the organic and raw beauty of a tree log, which is preserved in the board. 

The way that live edge boards are created is what connects them. The live sawing technique is usually used by woodworkers to create a live edge board as it involves cutting the log in a straight line from one side to the other, preserving the sapwood and natural edge of the log.

Overall, live edge wood slab, which is obtained from live sawing method, results in a variety of tables with highly valued aesthetic appeal. If you wish to have a rustic, natural sense of wood beauty complementing your home decor, this type of timber should be your choice.

Explore A Variety of Wood Cut Styles

Wood cuts obtained through a variety of sawing techniques can be further processed into unique wood slabs. These distinct styles cater to our diverse customers in different ways.

Let’s take a look at the various wood slab styles and see which one best suits your preferences and requirements.

Live Edge

A live edge wood slab is a type of wood cut that has been sliced from a tree log without any alteration to the edge. This type of wood slab displays the rustic outer shape of the tree log, including the sapwood, bark, knots, and other unique features present along the edge.

This means, choosing a live edge wood slab gives you the characteristics of the original tree log. For instance, opting for Suar wood will result in a wood slab with a darker brown hue on the inside and a light brown on the outside, highlighting the organic patterns found in Suar wood.

We use transparent coating properties to retain the natural colour, grains, and patterns of the tree log while also considering the final product qualities. This transparent coating is known as nano-coating, and it protects your wood slab without compromising its organic feel.

Dark Edge

Dark live edge, as the name implies, is a type of wood cut with an organic edge, only it appears darker compared to the organic live edge slab. To achieve this look, the wood slab is applied with darkening colouration during the processing steps.

You can obtain a dark edge slab from any type of timber. Even naturally light-coloured timber like Ash wood or Tamarind wood can be transformed into a dark edge wood slab. This versatility allows you to own a refined-look dark wood slab from a wide range of options.

As a finishing touch, we’ll apply a protective layer or known as nano-coating to ensure long-lasting durability. This nano-coating serves as a safeguard, protecting your wood slab from water damage and allowing you to preserve your wood slab for years to come.

Straight Cut

A straight cut is a type of wood cut that is cut with parallel edges on all sides. Unlike live edge slabs that preserve the rustic outer shape of the log, straight-cut slabs are trimmed to achieve a symmetrical appearance.

Going for a straight-cut slab makes a perfect choice if you’re looking for a wood slab with a clean and sharp look. The parallel edges achieved through the straight cut create a sense of precision and modernity to the overall design.

Aside from giving a sense of precision and modernity, choosing a straight-cut slab also gives you a lot more flexibility in customising your wood slab. You can get almost any size and shape of wooden tables that fit into your home design perfectly.

And just like the live edge and dark edge slabs, we’ll apply nano-coating as the finishing touch to a straight-cut slab of your choice. This will ensure your wooden tables are water resistant, giving you the chance to preserve them for a long time.

River Resin

River resin refers to the table top creation that involves joining two live edge wood cuts together with a resin filling at the centre. This results in a distinctive and visually striking table top, showcasing a seamless blend of natural wood and vibrant resin.

The river resin slab makes a perfect choice if you’re seeking something truly unique in your table top. The combination of the rustic live edge slabs with the intriguing allure of resin creates an eye-catching piece that stands out as a work of art in any space.

What’s more, the choice of resin filling is vast. You can choose a vibrant or earthy colour as the focal point of your resin river table top. This surely adds charm to your space, with the table top design tailored to your preferred aesthetics.

Fortune 8

Fortune 8 is a one-of-a-kind wood slab characterised by the combination of two circular tree logs. A fortune 8 slab, when viewed from the top, shows the interconnectedness of two circular sections that resemble the number 8 form.

The fortune 8 wood cut design not only highlights the natural feel of the wood, but also accentuates the captivating circular growth rings found within the tree log. Ultimately, owning a piece of it allows you to appreciate the beauty of its origin.

In addition, the fortune 8 slab makes a perfect choice to transform into a coffee table with a unique appearance. Its unique design will become a focal point that sparks curiosity and invites admiration.

This, in turn, will create an overall warm ambience in your space. Conversations with your friends and family will also feel more exciting.

Round

Round wood slab features a visually appealing round shape. It breaks away from the conventional rectangular shapes, showcasing the natural beauty of wood grains and patterns in an eye-catching way.

You can get a round slab from all types of wood types. In this case, we can work through Suar wood or Mahogany wood, depending on your preferences for particular wood grains and patterns.

Later on, you can own a round slab for a variety of purposes. These include a coffee table, dining table, or decorative top, all of which will become the focal point that adds a sense of dynamism to your space.

Live Edge Wood Cut Grades: Which One To Choose?

Being a live edge wood specialist ourselves, we’re dedicated to offering our customers high-quality live edge tables. We understand that each customer has unique needs and preferences, which is why we offer them a wide range of live edge slab grades.

Therefore, you should think about the wood cut grades for the table you intend to purchase. This will ensure that the slab you’re getting meets your criteria for quality, naturalness and budget.

In the following, we’ll go into several wood cut grades that we provide. Learn more below:

Grade S

Grade S is the epitome of perfection and excellence when it comes to the quality and appearance of wood cuts. It represents the highest grade achievable, characterised by flawless features and exceptional grains, showcasing the organic beauty of the tree log.

Despite showcasing the natural beauty of the tree log, Grade S wood remains free of defects. We carefully perform an inspection to ensure that it’s free of imperfections like blemishes or discolouration that can compromise its quality and visual appeal.

Furthermore, no additional repairs are needed with Grade S wood. That said, it’s an exceptional wood grade with its own appealing appearance and structural integrity, making additional corrections unnecessary.

Grade S wood is the ultimate choice when it comes to crafting high-end tables for your space. Its exquisite characteristics and flawless qualities ensure that your wooden table will stand out as visually striking and captivate the admiration of all who behold it.

Grade A

Grade A wood is characterised by the presence of natural sapwood on both sides of its edge. Sapwood, or the outer layer of the log, displays a lighter hue to the heartwood, or the inner part of the log. The inclusion of sapwood creates a beautiful contrast, enhancing the visual appeal of the wood cut.

Additionally, Grade A wood retains the organic edge of the tree log, which means that there’s no trimming involved during the cutting process. This results in a rustic character of the wood, giving your table top a unique and visually appealing appearance.

Furthermore, we meticulously inspected our Grade A wood to ensure that no cracks were present in the slab. This guarantees that the table tops you receive have structural integrity and the longest possible durability for you to use for years to come.

Lastly, as Grade A wood retains the organic grain patterns of the tree log, you can have a table top with awesome grains that are naturally found in the wood type of your choice. As a result, you can enjoy the beauty of organic wood sitting in your space at all times.

Grade B

Grade B wood has a notable feature characterised by the presence of faux live edge. Though it may not retain the organic feel of a natural live edge, it remains giving the wood slab a visually alluring appearance, especially with the inclusion of some sapwood retained.

Additionally, Grade B wood displays the natural cracks and defects found in the tree trunk. These imperfections add character to the final products and will be repaired with fillers to secure integrity and strength.

Aside from securing integrity and strength, the fillers also serve as supporting material. With the help of fillers, the surface of the wood will be smoother, more stable, and less prone to cracking.

Overall, Grade B wood cut makes an ideal choice if you’re looking for a budget wood slab which is 50% off from market price without placing a great emphasis on a natural live edge or epoxy filler. This wood grade remains, providing a sense of rustic with its faux live edge and expertly repaired fillers, ensuring the wood’s integrity and durability.

Seating Capacity: Choosing The Appropriate Wood Cut Sizes

After you’ve considered the style and grade of the wood cuts, it’s time to think about the seating capacity of the wood slab you’re about to purchase. This is an essential step, especially if you intend to purchase wood slabs intended to use as a table top.

Let’s take a look at the following seating capacity, which a table top of your choice can accommodate with:

4 Seater

The 4-seater table top is 140 cm to 160 cm long, providing ample space for two people sitting on the same side of the table. If you need more seating, this wood slab size conveniently fits two more seats on the opposite side.

As a result, there will be four seats on both sides of the table. However, it is important to note that each individual’s space will be reduced when compared to placing two seats on the same side of the table.

6 Seater

The 6-seater table top comes in a variety of lengths that you can choose from. Bearing a length of 180 cm to 200 cm, it comfortably accommodates three seats on the same side of the table, as well as providing ample table space.

Alternatively, if you wish to fit more seating capacity into the table, it’s possible to do so. The 6-seater table top can accommodate three more seats facing the opposite side of the table. This arrangement, however, may reduce the table space for each person.

8 Seater

The 8-seater table top is available in adjustable lengths of 230 cm to 250 cm. It conveniently fits four seats placed on the same side of the table, giving ample space for each person sharing the table.

It’s also possible to arrange more seating within the 8-seater table top. It can accommodate up to four more seats facing the opposite side of the table, making it fit a maximum of eight seats.

However, with more seating, the table space will be reduced for each person sharing the table.

10 Seater

The 10-seater table top bears an adjustable length of 300 cm to 350 cm. It comfortably accommodates five seats placed side by side on the same face of the table, providing ample table space for everyone sitting.

If you wish to add more seating, it’s also possible to do so with this table top size. For up to ten additional seating, you can conveniently invite more people to share the table. But, it’s important to note that the space for each person will be reduced.

Final Thoughts

Finally, our discussion of wood cuts has come to an end. 

By now, we hope you’ve gathered enough information from the different grains obtained from different sawing techniques, the wood styles you can get from the cuts of wood, to the shape and the seating capacity of the wooden table you intend to purchase.

So, aside from the flexibility of selecting timber types such as Suar Wood, Black Walnut, or Mahogany, you can always build a table top with a specific cut and style that meets your preferences and needs.

Looking To Find The Right Wood Cuts? Let Wood Capitol Do It For You!

If you’re looking for the right wood cuts to be transformed into beautiful pieces of wooden tables, you’ve come to the right place! At Wood Capitol, we have the expertise to provide you with specific wood quality to meet your unique needs and preferences.

Our curation showcases previous wood slabs, wood styles, and wood grades we’ve worked on for our customers. Take a look at our ample selection of wood tables, or you may visit us to experience the beauty of our woodworking first-hand.