Unedged or edged sawn timber: which to choose for the workshop?
When it pays to buy unedged sawn timber and when edged. A practical comparison for joiners, from a sawmill that grades oak and ash.
Joiners split roughly down the middle. Some take only unedged timber, because they want to decide every centimetre of width themselves. Others prefer edged, because workshop time costs money. Both camps are right, just for different projects.
Unedged: full control and live edge
An unedged board looks the way it came off the saw: with natural sides, sometimes with bark. What does that give you?
- You decide yourself how to cut the width for a particular element.
- You see the full section of the board, making it easier to match the grain pattern for a front or a worktop.
- The natural edge is ready-made material for live edge worktops.
The cost? Some of the material is lost when trimming, and you need both the time and the saw for it. With good-grade oak, that waste can hurt.
Edged: predictability and pace
Even edges along the full length mean you know straight away how much material you really have. You order to size, cut less and produce faster. For furniture runs or repeatable elements, this usually wins.
How we work
In Sulęcin we saw and grade oak and ash into grades AB, B/C and mix, in one of the most detailed grading operations in the area. The sawn timber is air dried naturally for 6 to 24 months. Tell us with your enquiry what you will be making from the material, and we will advise on the form and the grade. We will suggest something different to a joiner making worktops than to a workshop producing furniture fronts.
We will usually prepare a quote for specific dimensions the same day: enquiry form or telephone +48 571 326 804.
Frequently asked questions
How does unedged sawn timber differ from edged?+
Unedged sawn timber has natural sides with bark or wane, just as it came off the log. Edged timber has parallel edges trimmed along the full length.
Which type of sawn timber is cheaper per finished item?+
It depends on the project. Unedged can be cheaper per m³, but some of the material is lost when trimming. Edged gives a predictable width and less work in the workshop.
Are live edge worktops made from unedged sawn timber?+
Yes, it is the main material for live edge worktops. The natural edge of the board then becomes a decorative feature.