Plane and Simple

Woodworking Glossary

Plain-language definitions of common woodworking terms.

Grain
The direction and pattern of a wood's fibers -- ignore it and the wood will make sure you notice.
Kerf
The width of material a saw blade eats on its way through -- the wood that isn't in either half afterward.
Tearout
The torn, chipped mess a cutting edge leaves when it lifts wood fibers instead of slicing them -- always avoidable in hindsight.