Cutting Walnut

[tharp]

A friend just gave me a Walnut board. About 1"x6"x5'.
This piece is flat sawed (not quartered). Is this usable for pens, or is flat sawed a no-no. If I can use it, what's the best way to cut it, Lengthways?
Thanks
Tom

 

[Russianwolf]

if you cut a pen blank out of a board with the grain, you'll always wind up with two flatsawn faces and two quartersaw faces (or 4 riftsawn faces), the pen, once round, will look the same no matter.

The other ways to cut it would be cross grain or angle cut. those can lend different appearances to them.

 

[bradh]

Thanks for that explanation. I have always struggled to understand the quartersawn concept. I think I get it now.