Understanding Natural Wood Veneer and its Applications

Natural Wood Veneer is a type of overlay decorative surface made by cutting a very thin layer of the finest appearance of wood. In contrast to solid wood, which is the sawn log itself, veneers are obtained by peeling the tree trunk or cutting rectangular blocks of wood to create thin slices using a slicing machine. So, if you can make four pieces of solid wood from one log, you can make tens or hundreds of wood veneers from the same log. This makes wood veneers more advantageous in preserving resources than solid wood.

Wood veneering industry is teeming with various economical and high end products that covers all your siding and interior design needs. Wood veneers are classified in a dozen of ways: based on its use, wood species, and type of cut, as well as backing, matches, and the grains of wood. They are also categorised as either raw or flexible, the latter can be sawn into different shapes and sizes for more applications and use.

Wood species commonly used:

• Oak
• Maple
• Birch
• Cherry
• Walnut
• Ironwood
• Sandal

Exotic wood species:

• Ebony
• Teak
• Mahogany

Methods of veneer cutting:

• Crown cut
• Rotary cut
• Quarter normal cut
• Quarter rift cut

Different types of wood grains:

• Quilted
• Burl
• Splatted
• Bird’s eye
• Quarter sawn
• Crotch
• Mottled
• Flat cut

Veneer materials are manufactured by selecting logs according to diameter, quality, shape, grains, and maturity. Being made from wood, they retain the cosmetic characteristics of wood, such as knots, grain patterns, and other imperfections. It can also be treated, stained, sanded, and finished using the same techniques and materials meant for real wood.

The Role of Substrate in Wood Veneers

The thin layers of wood veneers are bonded to the surface of a substrate or core panels for stability and strength. Advancements in technology have improved the quality of wood veneers and they are now made thinner and stronger, but it wouldn’t be possible for veneers to have practical applications without the advances made in the quality of substrates. Composite panels are popular substrate for wood veneers because of their superior surface quality. Ideal panels are flat, uniform, smooth, and without knots and grain patterns.

Preferred substrate for natural wood veneers:

• Plywood
• Particleboard
• Medium density fibreboard (MDF)

Wood Sidings are used in a variety of ways, but mainly for interior design and improving the aesthetic appeal of furniture, doors, and other architectural elements — by adding the appearance of solid wood. There are various myths about wood sidings but the wide variety of wood species available makes it easier to create designs patterns that caters to one’s taste. Hundreds of combination can be made from the different matches, colors, grains, and textures of local and exotic wood species.

• Use in locations that require premium finishes, including executive offices, reception areas, and conference rooms.
• They can also be used to wrap customised luxury and vintage products such as boxes, tags, lamps, and other products that require high-end or exotic appearance.
• As a decorative design on floors, walls, ceilings, or the interiors of boats and automobiles.
• An important component in cabinet-making and marquetry: applying veneer pieces to structures (e.g. furniture) to form decorative designs.