Why Do Other Types of Lumber Appear During Machining?
Wondering why different types of lumber appear during machining? Learn what causes this and how to plan for it in your next cabinet project.
You ordered cabinet doors in a specific type of lumber, such as flat-cut Red Oak or quarter-sawn White Oak, but when they arrived, the grain patterns didn’t all match. Some doors looked right, while others seemed to have completely different patterns or flecks you didn’t expect. It’s frustrating, especially when your customer notices and questions the quality. So did your supplier use the wrong wood? Did something go wrong during production? What caused this?
At Cutting Edge, we’ve used hardwoods to make custom cabinet doors for over 20 years. Our team helps thousands of contractors, homeowners, and designers across North America select wood, grain patterns, and profile designs. Because we machine everything in-house, we’ve developed a deep understanding of how different lumber types reveal themselves during cutting and why the finished product sometimes includes more than one grain style, even when using a single board.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Why Different Lumber Types Appear During Machining
The grain pattern you see in a board depends entirely on how the log is cut. When a log is sliced, the angle of the cut in relation to the tree’s growth rings changes the look of the wood. That’s why some boards have wide, flowing patterns while others show tight, straight lines or shiny flecks.
There are three common ways logs are cut into lumber: flat cut (also called plain sawn), rift cut, and quarter sawn. Each method reveals a different grain pattern because it slices through the wood at a different angle.
- Suppliers slice straight through the log to produce flat cut lumber. This method is the most common because it results in the most boards with the least waste. The grain pattern is usually wide and curved.
- Suppliers slice the log at a consistent angle to produce rift cut lumber (30-60 degrees from the growth rings). This creates a clean, straight grain pattern with very minimal curve. Because this method produces more waste, rift cut lumber is typically more expensive.
- To produce quarter sawn lumber, suppliers first cut the log into quarters and then slice each section perpendicular to the growth rings. This results in tight, straight grain with shiny flecks, especially in Oak species.
Machining edges or shaping a profile can expose different grain patterns regardless of the wood type. This doesn’t mean the wrong lumber was used. It simply means that the machining tool moved through the wood at a different angle, revealing hidden parts of the grain.
Machining Reveals More Than the Surface
When shaping cabinet doors, cutting tools often move across multiple angles of the board, especially radiused or bevelled profiles. These angled cuts expose grain from other lumber types. For example, the same board can appear flat cut on the face with rift-like grain on a bevelled edge, or flecking on a roundover.
This is why a single door might show three different grain styles – they’re all part of the same board. Knowing this helps reduce confusion and helps you explain to your customer that this isn’t a mistake; it’s a natural part of working with real wood.
What Causes Multiple Types Of Lumber To Appear?
Not all cabinet door styles reveal the same amount of grain variation. In fact, many simple profiles hide grain differences almost completely.
Shaker-style doors have a flat panel with square edges. These doors only expose the face grain, so the grain remains consistent across the visible surfaces.
On the other hand, bevelled, radius, and curved profiles expose more of the wood’s structure. When machining these shapes, the tool digs into the board at changing angles, revealing end grain or edge grain. These are the areas where other grain types show up.
Deep bevels and thick radius edges cut across multiple layers of grain. This exposes patterns that may look completely different than the rest of the door. A bevel can show rift grain on one side and flecked quarter sawn grain on another, all from the same piece of wood.
That’s why your customer might think they received the wrong material. Understanding how profiles interact with wood grain helps you prevent surprises and explain these details to clients.
What It Looks Like When Other Lumber Types Appear
When different lumber types appear in a cabinet door, it can be surprising, especially if you or your customer expected a consistent grain. However, it’s normal to see multiple grain types within a single piece of wood, depending on how it’s cut and machined.
For example, if you’re working with White Oak and ordered quarter sawn lumber, you may expect to see that classic ray flecking across every surface. However, curved or bevelled profiles may show straight grain (rift) or even sweeping grain (flat cut). The result? A door that looks inconsistent, even though it came from the exact lumber you requested.
This is one of the most common concerns we hear from cabinetmakers and contractors. And while it might feel like a quality issue, it’s actually a natural and unavoidable part of working with real hardwood.
However, if this is a concern, you can choose profiles and wood types strategically.
How Wood Species Affect Grain Visibility
Different wood types show these grain differences with more or less intensity:
- White Oak: Grain types are very distinct. Quarter sawn flecking is bright and obvious. Rift cut and flat cut are easily told apart.
- Red Oak: Also shows high contrast, though the flecking is usually lighter than in White Oak.
- Maple and Walnut: Much more subtle. These woods are good choices when consistency matters, because the grain variation is less visible.
How Door Profiles Affect Grain Visibility
Just like wood species, door profiles impact how much grain variation becomes visible. The way a profile is shaped doesn’t change the lumber type, but it does change which part of the board you’re seeing.
Here’s how different profiles affect what you might see:
- Shaker Profiles: These simple profiles cut at a 90-degree angle. While they may expose other grain patterns, it’s rarely noticeable when looking at the front of the door.
- Small Bevels (1/8″ or 1/4″): These introduce slight angle changes. They can expose grain that looks straighter or tighter than the rest of the door, but the difference is often minimal, unless you’re working with dramatic species like Oak.
- Wide Bevels or Chamfers: These cuts reveal more grain variation because they pass through more of the board. That increases the chances of seeing other lumber patterns.
- Radius and Curved Profiles: These shapes expose the most grain variation because the cutting angles shift constantly. While it’s not guaranteed, curves often reveal different lumber patterns.
Be prepared to see and explain these differences if you're building with Oak and using detailed profiles. If you want a consistent grain, consider Walnut, Maple, or a simple square-edge profile.
Learn How To Price Out Cabinet Doors Online
Grain variation during machining isn’t a mistake; it’s a natural result of how wood is cut and shaped. The type of lumber, the species, and the door profile all affect which grain patterns appear. Now that you understand why this happens, you’re in a stronger position to set expectations and explain the finished product with confidence.
If inconsistent grain has ever caused delays or client concerns, this knowledge helps you stay ahead of the issue. When consistency matters, choose subtle species and simple profiles. Ready to plan your next job? Learn how to use our online pricing tool to quote cabinet doors that fit your design and your timeline.
