Grain (wood)

The fibers that make up the wood.  Grain is usually referred to by it’s orientation for the purposes of milling or caring for a wood product, or for determining the quality.  For example, we try to avoid exposing the end grain of a piece whenever possible because it doesn’t machine as well as the side grain.  Another example is that a board is of higher quality when it has a vertical grain structure (quartersawn), which will not warp, cup, or crack as easily as a board with a horizontal grain orientation (flatsawn).