Replies

1. 
   NietzschesMustache | Jan 25, 2010 06:03am | #1

   OED sez "streaky." Under the third definition of "roe," they cite Canadian Antiques Collector as saying that roe figure is alternating dark and light streaks running parallel with the grain that switch back and forth according to how the light hits it.

1. 
   zgmc | Jan 25, 2010 08:31am | #2

   Would quarter sawn red or white oak be considered roey?

2. 
   chamfer | Jan 25, 2010 10:02am | #3

   Bruce Hoadley,in _Understanding Wood_ describes "roey" figure at some length. Rather than paraphrase, I thought I would simply quote him:

   "Ribbon or stripe figure is produced when wood having interlocked grain is cut radially. Interlocked grain is the result of repeated cycles of spiral growth, varying back and forth from left to right-hand spirals ... . Except for short pieces, such wood is virtually impossible to split. When a radial surface is smoothly machined, however, these reversing spirals create a characteristic visual effect, due in part to the variation in the length of the severed vessels at the surface. The lines are long where the grain direction is parallel to the surface, but reduced nearly to pore diameter where the vessels intersect the surface at a considerable angle. The varying light reflectiveness of the fiber tissue also contributes to the overall appearance ... . Figure that shows short stripes is often called roe figure, and the interlocked grain referred to as roey grain. Where wavy grain occurs in combination with interlocking grain so the ribbon figure is interrupted at intervals, the figure is termed broken stripe ...; when curly figure predominates, a mottled figure results ... ."

   Hope this helps.

   Don McConnell

   Eureka Springs, AR

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 25, 2010 08:22pm | #7

   Don,

   That was most helpful. Thank you.

3. 
   WillGeorge | Jan 25, 2010 11:41am | #4

   Would this help?

   Figure that shows short stripes is often called roe figure and the interlocked grain referred to as roey grain.

   This article is excerpted from Understanding Wood: A Craftman's Guide to Wood Technology, copyright © 2000

   http://www.architectureweek.com/2004/0331/building_1-2.html

4. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 25, 2010 01:04pm | #5

   Yet another strange word in the English language, eh?

   The quotes from "Understanding Wood" appear to explain how the term is used, but the term's origin is still a mystery.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jan 25, 2010 01:47pm | #6

   I think of Roe as fish eggs as Chris suggested. Maybe Birdseye scattered around the wood surface and still has grain. As in 'eggs' scattered about?

   And Chamfer had a description I could not picture in my mind. I think the best but i just cannot picture it!

2. 
   joinerswork | Jan 26, 2010 09:11am | #8

   Ralph,

   I imagine it is from "row", as the stripes are aligned in rows, but why it isn't spelled "rowed" or "rowey", is another mystery then.

   An old work I read referred to mahogany having a mottled appearance, as being called by the old makers, "horseflesh" mahogany. Never saw any horsemeat, but I guess it is maybe the same figure.

   Ray