Shaft wood

[Stew boo]

Where exactly are the growth rings on a shaft, and what is considered to be the wood grain? Are they the straight lines that run up and down or the longer oval shape lines? I took 2 pictures for reference, the first picture can be referred as Pic A, and the second Pic B.

 

[thoffen]

Grain is a term used with wood in a lot different ways and could actually refer to different things.

In this context, we are talking about the growth rings which a result of the wood going through seasons in the year. "Earlywood" starts growth in the spring and is typically (and in the case of the maple above) the lighter colored sections where the narrower darker colored sections of the maple are "latewood" which is denser and less porous representing growth in colder temperature.

Both pic A and B are showing the same thing, just with different orientations. Pic A is perpendicular to the direction of growth so you see all the growth rings. Pic B is parallel so you see the growth rings as ovals because the cue is tapered.

 

[kgoods]

Where exactly are the growth rings on a shaft, and what is considered to be the wood grain? Are they the straight lines that run up and down or the longer oval shape lines?

Simple answer, yes! The growth rings are the grain. If you turn the shaft 90 degrees from where you are looking at the "oval" lines you'll see that those same lines turn into straight lines as the shaft gets fatter. The reason they turn into ovals is because the grain/growth ring runs out the side of the shaft due to the taper.

 

[cueman]

Both are grain. But the thin lines show you the grain count from the side. The feathers "oval lines" are the top side of the grain where the taper is bringing each grain line to an end.