Difference between Shake and Split

[RossJarvis]

Just out of curiosity, i've long wondered what the difference between a shake and split is. This came up in an exam a friend was sitting. The nearest I can get is that a "shake" follows the growth ring and a split does not. Additionally a split goes all the way through a piece of timber whereas a shake might not. Is this one of those things where there are lots of definitions and no conclusive ones?

 

[RobinBHM]

I've only heard the term shake applied to a timber defect that is inherent in the tree when it is felled or caused through the process of seasoning. A heart shake, ring shake or thunder shake for example (radial, tangential, across the grain).

Checking, I suppose describes a smaller crack, usually as surface checking and honeycombing. Timbers weak in shear like oak are prone to this.

I tend to think of splits as being caused by mechanical means, big hammer, forklift fork, screw. Although an end split commonly happens during seasoning.

I'm not sure if the the terms are actually precise definitions or overlap somewhat and is a case of semantics.

 

[Billy Flitch]

+1 on what Robin has said I was taught that a shake is something that is in the tree when it is growing ,when it has been felled or as it is drying.A split is something man puts into the wood through working it.

The 3 classifications of shake that I know of are Hart shake, Star shake and cup shake.