I usually take 2 inches off the end of a board

[Mitchell Andrus]

I usually take 2 inches off the end of a board

Not this time...... Drawer front, anyone????
.

[Anthony Watson]

I've used boards like that when I need narrower strips for door or face frames. I can usually get a full length above and below the split.

Of course, if the board is long enough for your needs, you can just cut the split off... :)

Anthony

[Dave Verstraete]

I use pieces like that for tops to the boxes I make for B-days and Christmas gifts.

[Chris Padilla]

I see some tear-out above the body of the tape measure, too. ;) Just in case you ddin't notice that! haha :D

Looks like a board for the "I can't quite toss this thing because it may serve some purpose some day" pile.... :)

[Paul Atkins]

However, the end of the board is where you cut it off. When do you quit?

[Kevin Godshall]

Looks like a board for the "I can't quite toss this thing because it may serve some purpose some day" pile.... :)

Oh no.......... you mean I'm not the only person with one of these "piles"?

[Steve Clardy]

Yep. I deal with that a lot.

[Chip Lindley]

Rough lumber is an inexact medium at best. We expect much waste from #1 common. I have had more luck with *shorts* that did not grade! Some nice wide, but short boards. Cabinet making calls for lots of pieces 42"-32" or less.

If your board opened up after cutting through the knot, I suspect stresses were free to act, and the wood opened up. As mentioned before, these pieces are best ripped into narrow pieces instead of losing so much length.

I have found that planning my cuts on rough lumber for a project is NOT a no-brainer. I try to maximize usage of stock. Every board has its special place. Putting the puzzle together is the first rewarding experience in making a project come together, instead of gang ripping stock and chopping out defects as the big operations do. I am too respectful of nice hardwood (and too mizerly) to waste more than I absolutely must!

[Larry Fox]

First foot of that board gets cut off and tossed into the burn pile for me. I see the 8" split, a knot and what looks to be another one starting in the top corner. After I cut it, I flex it a bit across it's width to see if I can see any more splitting starting.