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

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.