Wood is a wonderful material to work with. It is versatile, strong, and resistant to shocks, mold, and weathering. The way it is cut can extend the versatility of the material too, and there are different ways that these cuts can be employed.
Cutting lumber in different ways can produce either end, edge, or face grain, each suited to particular uses, and with its own attributes. So which specific grain is the best choice for your woodworking project? The answers are really quite simple.
Edge Grain: Definition, Pros, and Cons
Edge grain, sometimes referred to as vertical grain, is the result of quarter-sawing timber to allow the edges of the tree growth rings to show up on the widest faces of the wood. The rings should display angles of 45° to 90° through the end of the board.
You may hear edge grain sometimes referred to as long grain too. It is most often seen in cutting boards, either as thin strips of wood glued together in a pattern or as a matching block of color.
Edge grain is the most resilient surface after end grain and can take regular kitchen use without deep scarring or wearing over time.
End Grain: Definition, Pros, and Cons
End grain is usually what you would see on the end of a board where the growth rings of the tree have been cut through at 90°. It is easy to see how this became referred to as ‘end grain’ as it is literally the grain found at the end of any plank or timber board.
This cut is very water-absorbent but also dries out quickly. Under a microscope, it resembles nothing more than a number of straws all packed together. It is the way that a tree draws nutrients through the trunk and branches.
Because of this, sawmills will often treat the cut ends of boards in storage to prevent end splitting due to moisture.
End grain is very resilient, and has been used for factory flooring, where the nature of the cut edge absorbs sound, impacts, and general wear and tear better than other wood surfaces.
Face Grain: Definition, Pros, and Cons
Face grain is the part of the timber board with the widest possible grain configuration. It’s what you see on the front of cabinet doors, on floorboards, and, usually, on the broadest ‘face’ of the piece of timber in your hand. It is where you will see most of the distinctive colors and grain patterns that characterize a species’ unique signature identity.
This is what you will see on tabletops, doors, and paneling. The more decorative a piece, then the more likely it is that the face grain will be favored over others.
Why Does It Matter Which Grain You Use?
You can use all three grains for cutting boards, but there are times when a particular grain might not be appropriate for use. Face grain is very decorative, end grain is resilient to impacts, and edge grain is kind of both. Deciding which is best for your project depends upon what the finished article is most likely to be exposed to the most.
Can You Mix Edge, End, and Face Grains?
It is not the best practice to mix edge, end, and face grains when making a cutting board, as the mix of hardness and resilience could lead to different rates of wear. If you add to that the difficulties finishing a piece with opposing grains, plus issues you might encounter with gluing, then it is probably best, in this case, to stick to one grain.
Edge Grain vs. End Grain vs. Face Grain: Which Is the Best?
Again, there is not one grain that stands head and shoulder above the rest. Face grain is the most commonly used in most situations, but end grain is also unbeatable in its own way. It really comes down to what the project is that you’re working on.
Most of the time it will be quite clear that one or other grain is best for the job at hand. There’s no reason why end grain, for example, cannot be used for aesthetic purposes, if that is what works best at the time. And you could use face grain for a cutting board if looks were more important than function.
Cutting Boards and Butcher Blocks
Edge grain is a terrific one to use for cutting boards because it blends resilience with great looks. The boards can be cut, glued, and finished well to produce a cutting board than is very easy on the eye and will outlast many other iterations.
End grain, because of its give, is perfect for butcher’s blocks. It can take many hours of chopping and still look great at the end of the day. The end grain of the timber splits when struck by a knife, thereby cushioning the blow, and preventing excessive wear to the kitchen knife. These cutting boards are also usually a lot heavier than their face or edge grain cousins.
Face grain is the one to use for serving boards. When you want to display or serve food that has already been partly or entirely prepared then a face grain serving board can be used to show off your culinary skill, as well as the beautiful wood.
All in all, which is the best will also depend on the type of wood you choose for your cutting board.
Countertops
A countertop is usually made with face grain as it is the most aesthetically pleasing. After all, this is why we have cutting boards, so we can protect the working surface of the counter in the kitchen.
Chess Boards
Chess boards are another great way to spend time with wood, cutting strips and gluing them together to create one of the world’s most popular games of strategy. It’s also an opportunity to put together different timbers to create that iconic contrasting tiled pattern.
The squares are usually made from 2” strips of face grain for maximum decorative effect. If your chess board has been made with end grain then it is more likely that you are playing chess on the chef’s cutting board!
Summary
The great thing about woodworking is that the chosen material is not just versatile, beautiful, sustainable, and a delight to work with, but it is also very forgiving. Yes, there are specific uses for end, edge, and face grain, but at the end of the day, it should be realized that rules are there to help, not hinder creativity.
While there are methods of using wood that have stood the test of time, such as using end grain in butcher’s blocks to preserve the sharp edge of your blade, there is nothing to say that you can’t use that same end grain elsewhere.
Similarly, while edge grain is favored for general-use cutting boards, a serving board fashioned from a face grain board is just as acceptable, although slightly less durable. At the end of the day, it is up to you to make what you will, remembering that the guidelines are there to help you make the best of things.