English

Noun

rift saw ‎(plural rift saws)

1. A circular saw with toothed arms for cutting logs radially.
   • 1912, Henry Disston, Disston lumberman handbook, page 53:

     This size is also used for rift saws, heavy edger saws, and bench saws.

   • 1948, Veneers and Plywood - Volume 42, page 48:

     The wing or rift saw, it may be said, is of special design having six wings with portions of the saw plate cut away between the wings.

   • 1992, Pinkaew Leungaramsri & ‎Noel Rajesh, The Future of People and Forests in Thailand After the Logging Ban:

     We just use a rift saw so we do not have to ask for permission.

   • 2014, Christoph Richter, Wood Characteristics: Description, Causes, Prevention, Impact on Use and Technological Adaptation, ISBN 3319074229:

     At the sawmill lightning damaged logs can be processed using a rift saw, whereby the damaged part of the stem is cut off as slab wood with the first cut (Fig. 7.12).

Verb

rift saw ‎(third-person singular simple present rift saws, present participle rift sawing, simple past rift sawed, past participle rift sawn)

1. To cut a log into boards by first quartering and then cutting radially at an angle of 30-60 degrees to the grain (as opposed to quartersaw, which involves cutting radially at an angle of 60-90 degrees).
   • 1956, Edward Molloy, Builder's and Decorator's Reference Book:

     Softwood flooring, such as pitch pine, Oregon pine and deal, should be rift sawn if a good finish and even wearing surface are required.

   • 2003, ‎Elena M. S. Garrison, The Graphic Standards Guide to Architectural Finishes, ISBN 0471449520:

     Because rift sawing reduces the number of cuts parallel to a log's medullary rays, it reduces the flake effect common to quartered oak.