A flitch is a large slab or section cut directly from a log during primary breakdown. Flitches are commonly produced when opening a log and establishing faces.
In large or old timber, flitches help reveal internal structure, grain orientation, and condition before additional milling decisions are made. They can also preserve wide potential when the material supports it.
A flitch is not finished lumber. It is an intermediate form that can be evaluated, converted further, or allocated for an intended use that fits the grain and condition.
Using the term correctly matters because it describes a real stage of the milling process, not a marketing label.
