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  3. Radial Shrinkage
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    Glossary
    Wood Movement

    Radial Shrinkage

    Definition

    Shrinkage along the rays — the wide dimension of a quartersawn board. Roughly half the tangential value, making quartersawn the most stable cut.

    In use

    Quartersawn moves half as much as flatsawn — radial shrinkage is the reason.

    Related Terms

    Quartersawn

    A cut where annual rings run perpendicular to the face. Shows straight grain and, in oak, dramatic ray fleck. Most stable; expensive yield.

    Tangential Shrinkage

    Shrinkage across the annual rings — the wide dimension of a flatsawn board. Always greater than radial shrinkage; usually about twice as much.