While X-ray computed tomography (CT) is used extensively in sawmills, its primary applications are improving value-yield and process automation. Three-dimensional CT scanners have also been extensively used for log sorting and sawing optimisation. However, there is hardly any resent research utilising CT from a cutting process perspective. This study addresses this gap by adopting CT to investigate the correlation between local wood properties — namely density, knots and annual rings — and cutting forces. Cutting forces for clear-wood and knotty-wood specimens of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) followed the expected trend corresponding to the density profile: dense regions led to high cutting force while other regions caused low cutting forces. However, it was found that in addition to density, knot orientation relative to cutting direction, annual ring width along the cutting path, and annual ring angle in relation to the cutting direction were critical factors that influence the cutting process. This study illustrates the feasibility of coupling local wood properties obtained from CT data with cutting force, potentially inspiring further research on a variety of wood property/cutting force relationships.