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Rift slicing can avoid the appearance of flake by using a “staylog lathe” which cuts with a rotary action. A quarter of the log is fixed to a plate, and the plate is then fixed acentric to the center line of a turning lathe As the flitch is rotated, it comes in contact with the knife and the angle can be varied so that the wood is cut exactly to produce the very straight rift grain. This is generally found in oak only. Though rift cut maple, walnut and cherry are often spoken of, these are actually the straighter grain portions of plain sliced or quarter sliced logs. Since rift grain is generally the straightest and free from cathedrals and variations in grain, it is used to enhance verticality and is easily sequenced and matched.

Typical rift sliced oak pattern.