Dimensional stability Timber expands and contracts in response to humidity, usually much less so longitudinally than in the radial and tangential directions. As tracheophytes, trees have lignified tissues which transport resources such as water, minerals and photosynthetic products up and down the plant. While lumber from a harvested tree is no longer alive, these tissues still absorb and expel water causing swelling and shrinkage of the wood in kind with change in humidity.Wood Movement, WoodworkDetails.com When the dimensional stability of the wood is paramount, quarter-sawn or rift-sawn lumber is preferred because its grain pattern is consistent and thus reacts less to humidity.
Dimensional stability Timber expands and contracts in response to humidity usually much less so longitudinally than in the radial and tangential directions As tracheophytes trees have lignified tissues which transport resources such as water minerals and photosynthetic products up and down the plant While lumber from a harvested tree is no longer alive these tissues still absorb and expel water causing swelling and shrinkage of the wood in kind with change in humidityWood Movement WoodworkDetailscom When the dimensional stability of the wood is paramount quarter-sawn or rift-sawn lumber is preferred because its grain pattern is consistent and thus reacts less to humidity