About veneers
Types of veneers
Book matched veneers
Every other strip of veneer is turned over. This produces a grain pattern that is matched at the veneer joint.
Slip matched veneers
Strips of veneers are laid out side by side to produce a repetitive pattern
Random veneers
Composed of several pieces of veneer varying in width that are glued together to form a whole sheet. The way they are laid out determines the final look of the veneer.
Whole piece veneers
Using a rotary process, continuous pieces of veneers are pulled from a log to form Whole Piece Veneers
veneer grADES
SELECT VENEER - composed entirely of heartwood or sapwood and is matched for both grain, pattern and color
UNIFORM VENEER - composed of entirely heartwood or sapwood, but is matched for color only
NATURAL VENEER - composed of both heartwood and sapwood and is generally less expensive than select or uniform veneers
PAINT GRADE VENEER - finished smoothly enough so none of the wood grain characteristics show through the paint
STAIN GRADE VENEER - meant to take a clear or tinted stain and still show the natural characteristics of the wood
how veneer is cut
ROTARY CUT VENEERS - Entire log is peeled producing a continuous ribbon of veneer
PLAIN SLICED VENEERS - Log is cut in half lengthwise. Each half is then sliced lengthwise producing a veneer with a unique grain pattern.
RIFT SLICED VENEERS - Log is cut into quarters lengthwise then sliced at a 90-degree angle to the grain. This produces a fine pencil stripe effect. Both plain and rift sliced veneers are reserved for high-grade “fancy” panels.
HALF ROUND SLICED VENEERS - This is a variation of rotary cutting. This effect results from the log being mounted off center in the lathe so only one side of the log is sliced at a time.
QUARTER SLICED VENEES - The quarter log is mounted so the growth rings strike the cutting knife at right angles. This produces a series of stripes in the veneer.