Rift sawn refers to a lumber cutting technique with the goal of producing more stable lumber that yields less distortion and figuring. Rift sawn lumber is typically narrow with a very straight grain pattern on the face of the board. The annular rings of a rift sawn board are typically between 30 and 60 degrees to the face of the board, with 45 degrees being optimum. It can be manufactured either as a compliment to quarter sawn lumber or logs can be cut specifically as rift sawn. Rift sawn lumber is considered to be costly to produce, due to the waste left behind from between each board.
