14 Jun End Grains

I’m often asked about the durability and also the aesthetics of the details in the tables, and so it seems worth explaining.

Let me begin by saying that balance is important, both with looks and wood movement. When designing a table, an imperative factor is the placement of the wood as it is key to its success. An influential factor to this work is wood movement.   Wood is a living species that continuously expands and/or contracts with changes in humidity.   Therefore, the fundamental element is balancing the arrangement- arranging the parts based on the grain direction.   Pieces composed without consideration of their orientation will lead to an unstable slab.

As such, working with end grain requires a good deal of planning and consideration of wood movement.   But the results are well worth the effort.

What is an end grain?  End grain is the grain in the wood seen when it is cut across growth rings.   The different grain features and colors are brought forth as I play with different placement of the wood. End grains also reveals its age as formed by the yearly growth of the tree.   As such, what is oftentimes unveiled is the old growth wood in which has attained great age, exhibiting unique features.   It’s important to note that different wood species have different rates of tan-genital and radial shrinkage. To balance the grain, I deliberately arrange annular rings strategically so that they alternate in direction- which assists in restraining each other’s movement.

I arrange the planks with intention, deliberately balancing them to make a good visual and structural sense in the final product.   Although, as with everything, techniques and methods are applied on a case by case situation. But regardless of the approach, the end result yields a beautiful yet durable piece.