Looking beneath rough sawn timber

[Yip]

I have an opportunity to purchase some rough sawn (highly desirable) wood. How can I assess the figure, grain etc without slicing it?

All responses will be geatly valued.

tia

Yip

[Kev Y.]

tough call YIP, I too will be looking forward to the answers..

Kev.

[ubeaut]

The answer is a pretty simple one........

Chuck a bucket of water over it. The figure will show out instantly. This is one of the reasons why timber sellers who hawk their wares at woodworking shows etc, make lots more sales in the rain.

Cheers - Neil

[Shane Watson]

I don't even use water as ya can see what the grain pattern looks like anyway. Just might have to look a little harder and ignore the saw marks etc, but its all there for you to see. This only dosn't work if the bark is still wrapped around the log, but then ain't much going to show the grain pattern in that case.
Cheers! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Justin]

" How can I assess the figure, grain etc without slicing it? "

Try shaving it instead - with a handplane or a scraper.