Interlocking Grain

[rmac]

That other thread about identifying red vs. white oak got me reading reading about such things. I kept seeing the words "interlocking grain", but I couldn't find anything that really explained what people mean by that. Anybody here know what "interlocking grain" is?

-- Russ

[bywc]

It is referring to grain which spins around the axis of the tree it can switch back on itself regularly.

Wood in which the fibers are angled in different directions every few annual rings; produces ribbon-stripe grain when quartersawn.

Source http://www.architectureweek.com/2004/0331/building_1-2.html

Ribbon or stripe figure is produced when wood that has interlocked grain is cut radially. Interlocked grain is the result of repeated cycles of spiral growth, varying back and forth from left- to right-hand spirals. Except for short pieces, such wood is virtually impossible to split. These reversing spirals create a characteristic visual effect, due in part to the variation in the length of the severed vessels at the surface.

Here is also a PDF that has picture examples and in depth information about the subject.

direct link to the PDF

http://www.treeworld.info/attachments/f29/17624d1293095757-spiral-interlocking-grain-trees-spiral-grain-trees.pdf

The source site for the above PDF also has some good information it is

http://www.treeworld.info/f29/spiral-interlocking-grain-trees-17891.html

Here is a pretty cool picture of what it can look like also from the above site

[rmac]

Ribbon or stripe figure is produced when wood that has interlocked grain is cut radially. Interlocked grain is the result of repeated cycles of spiral growth, varying back and forth from left- to right-hand spirals.

That explains it better than anything I could find. Thanks!

So, do you suppose that's what's going on in the picture? (These are some boards in the table that Marc made in Darrell Peart's class at the William Ng School.)

-- Russ

[RenaissanceWW]

Yes that is what is happening in those boards. The dark stripes you are are end grain (or end grainish) fibers. The absorb more finish and light and appear darker. Those alternating bands of fibers that run in different directions present themselves like this on a board. Imagine a series of S curves as the grain runs parallel to the surface then dives down and then back up. As you run a hand plane or power planer along the surface the blade runs with the grain, across the end grain, and against the grain all on the same surface. It makes a stunning board, but a pain to surface cleanly.

[Vic]

Yes that is what is happening in those boards. The dark stripes you are are end grain (or end grainish) fibers. The absorb more finish and light and appear darker. Those alternating bands of fibers that run in different directions present themselves like this on a board. Imagine a series of S curves as the grain runs parallel to the surface then dives down and then back up. As you run a hand plane or power planer along the surface the blade runs with the grain, across the end grain, and against the grain all on the same surface. It makes a stunning board, but a pain to surface cleanly.

Ah..cleanly by handplanes, master. This is wear abrasives shine as well as helical head cutters.