What is a Waney edge?

Answer 1

A waney edge is the the edge that follows the natural curve of the the tree. Basically a bark edge, with or without the presence of the bark.

In a sawmill, each log is generally scanned and subjected to a first breakdown in accordance with a specific log breakdown pattern. The pattern is calculated to obtain an optimum value out of the log. The first goal is usually to make a maximum number of large one-piece sections because of their high value

Some of the wood slabs removed from the outer portion of the log during the first breakdown because they were considered too close to the bark layer can be resawn in a second breakdown to recover useful sections. Lumber pieces coming from the second breakdown typically have wane (a decrease) somewhere along one or both longitudinal sides. A side with wane is also referred to as a "waney edge". A waney edge is found on lumber that was adjacent to the original cylindrical surface of the log (the bark). In the lumber business, unless the wane is very small, a waney edge significantly reduces the commercial value of a plank.

However people who like a rustic feel to their furniture or woodwork often make the waney edge a feature -- you can see this in some log cabin style and low impact buildings, and in rustic chairs and tables, bookcases, window sills and occasionally door and window frames. It can be quite beautiful -- with the bark still on, or removed and sanded or polished.