Hi Stan ,

Rehd is right but I'll also throw in my 2 cents.

Lumber is cut in basicly two configurations, flat sawn and quarter sawn. Flat sawn is when the grain is parrallel to the width of the board, i.e. when you look at the end of your 1/4 X 3/4 strip the growth rings are parallel to the 3/4 inch face. Quarter sawn is when the grain is parallel to the thickness of the board, i.e. when you look at the end of your 1/4 X 3/4 strip the growth rings are parallel to the 1/4 inch face. In reality boards you buy at the lumber yard the grain is at an angle but almost always close enough to be called flat sawn.

The pros and cons are: Flat sawn boards are easier to saw from a log with less waste so they are cheaper. Shrinkage and swelling is more parallel to the grain than radial (across the grain), so quarter sawn lumber is better to glue edge to edge for dimensional control. The light portions of the grain are softer than the dark so the face of quarter sawn lumber is more resistant to being dented because the dimension between the rings is smaller with quarter sawn and denting objects are more apt to bridge from ring to ring. The soft portinons of the grain also sand faster so quarter sawn lumber sands truer and flatter. Quarter sawn lumber is also easier to bend without breaking. Flat sawn lumber has wide wavey grain on the face, quarter sawn has close parallel grain (woods like oak that have radial rays, have nice figuring when quarter sawn).

So what does all this mean in kayak building? Quarter sawn strips are easier to bend without breaking and sand evenly for more fair lines. Shrinkage or swelling is not a concern once the wood is sealed in epoxy.

If a ture flat-sawn one-by (3/4 inch thick board) is purchased at the common lumber yard and it is ripped into 1/4 inch strips the strips will be "quarter sawn". Since you are starting with 2-by dimensioned lumber you have the option to cut any which way you want. My vote is to cut parallel to the face that will give you close to quarter-sawn strips. It's not worth the waste and trouble to make perfect quarter sawn lumber unless you just want that look.

I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know. I hope it helps or at lease amuses.

Dave