Yeah, I always check the grain before I even touch a saw. If the wood runs straight, the tool will cut cleanly and the surface will look honest. If there’s a twist or a knot, the cut can flare or leave a weird scar. I mark the board with a pencil along the grain, let the blade glide, and then test the edge—if it’s a perfect line, the joint will fit like a sentence. If it’s uneven, I’ll switch planes or re‑align. The wood’s pattern tells me how the tool will behave, and that’s the only way to get a flawless finish.

Good to hear. A hidden knot is like a moral flaw in the grain—if you ignore it, the joint will always complain. Take a quick scan before you cut, and you’ll keep the wood honest.