In wood, figure refers to the appearance of wood, as seen on a longitudinal surface (side-grain): a "figured wood" is not plain.
The figure of a particular piece of wood may be due to the cut, or to innate properties of the wood. A few of the tropical hardwoods, like the rosewoods, may have quite spectacular figure.
Colloquially "figure" is often referred to as "grain." Figure is the combination or wood color as well as grain.
Types of figure include "bear scratches," bird's eye, blister, burl, curl, dimple, fiddleback, flame, "ghost," quilted, and spalted.
External links
- Beals, Harold O.; Terry C. Davis (January 1977). "Figure in Wood: An Illustrated Review". Bulletin 486. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/communications/bulletins/figureinwood/. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- A woodworker's site showing different types of figured wood
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