I sometimes receive questions about rip-cutting and crosscutting. Woodworking terminology can be confusing especially when\u00a0 you are just getting started.<\/p>\n
Rip-cut vs crosssut: A rip cut is a cut in the same direction as the grain of the wood and a crosscut is a cut across the grain of the wood. Because the grain of wood runs un and down the length of a tree, it usually means that rip cuts are long cuts and cross cuts are short cuts. A miter saw is designed to make crosscuts.<\/strong><\/p>\n Unfortunately, people are unaware of the importance of knowing this. I look at many people that are equipped with saws but they still don\u2019t know the basics of the cutting.<\/p>\n I have been in the exact same position. There wasn\u2019t someone who can help me or guide me through the process of learning, so I had to go the hard way before I learned the proper techniques.<\/p>\n Luckily, I decided to make this easier for you and share with you all my acquired knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n I really hope that this article will guide you through the basics of both cutting types<\/strong>, so you will easily understand them and start implementing. I am really excited to help you with your new desired piece of furniture, so let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s keep things as simple as possible, so everyone could understand \u2013 rip-cutting is cutting the wood by the width, while crosscutting is cutting the wood by length.<\/strong><\/p>\n This definition is enough to start with, but you will need more than this.<\/p>\n Rip-cutting<\/strong><\/p>\n Find the right blade<\/strong> for that particular wood type, and a non-stick coating blade will often do the job. Rip-cuts need blades with fewer teeth and large gullets<\/strong> are good for fast stock removal.<\/p>\n Next, measure and mark the wood<\/strong> on the desired width you want to cut.<\/p>\n Set the right depth<\/strong> that should be not more than a quarter inch more\u00a0that\u00a0the wood.<\/p>\n Finally, start the blade<\/strong> and carefully follow your markings in order to cut a straight line. This is a narrow cut, so you need to be much careful in order to maintain the line.<\/p>\n If you do everything right, you will be able to succeed in this.<\/p>\n Once you are done with the cut, let the piece of wood fall down freely.<\/p>\n This is relatively the basics you need to know about rip-cutting. If you are serious about this and want to learn more about rip-cuts, check What is a rip-cut<\/a> for more detailed information.<\/p>\nDefining rip-cutting and crosscutting<\/h2>\n
Rip-cut vs crosscut<\/h2>\n