Wane
Wane is the presence of bark or missing wood along the edge or corner of a piece of lumber. It occurs because the board was cut from near the outer edge of the log, where the round shape prevents a full rectangular cross-section. Wane is considered a defect in most grading systems and reduces the usable width or thickness of the board.
In-Depth Explanation
Wane is one of the most common natural defects found in sawn lumber. When a log is milled, boards cut closest to the outside of the log often retain bark or have rounded, incomplete corners where the log's cylindrical shape didn't provide enough wood for a full rectangular profile. Grading rules from organizations like NHLA and WWPA specify how much wane is permissible in each grade. In structural lumber, wane can reduce bearing area and is limited by building codes. However, some woodworkers and designers intentionally seek waney-edge or live-edge boards for their rustic, natural aesthetic in furniture and architectural features.
Usage Example
The contractor rejected several 2x10s because excessive wane on the edges would reduce their load-bearing capacity in the floor system.