Addison,

It's important. The vertical grain strips bend better, without snapping. They twist easier, and they sand better. There was a thread not too long ago, by Pete Rudie I think, on sanding the flat-sawn strips. It's a pain.

All that said, if it's the look your'e after then with patience you can probably make them work.

> in searching for local sources for cedar, I found a local fence supplier
> that is willing to part with 1x4 white cedar very cheap...most of this
> material is flat sawn so that if I slice a 1/4" strip from the side
> my strips will all show the end grain. Should I slice a 1/2 strip and turn
> it sideways and then cut two 1/4" strips so I end up with 1/4 x 1/2
> strips? Based on the collective experience here, should I put up with the
> additional waste to get the correct grain orientation ? Or is it not that
> important ?