Hardwood veneer is a thinly sliced sheet of wood. Typical thickness can range from .25 millimeters (app. 1/102")
to 2.5 millimeters (app. 1/10"). International Veneer Co., usually cut between .50 millimeters (app. 1/51") to .79 millimeters
(app. 1/32") although customers can specify a special thickness such as 1.2 millimeters (app. 1/20").
Face
veneer is the highly decorative and ornamental veneer used on furniture, panels, and
architectural applications. International Veneer Co. specializes in face veneer that is prized
by manufacturers and architectural firms.
History of Veneer
Records indicate that the ancient Egyptians used veneer over 3,500 years ago. The veneer they used
was cut with bronze knives and was only about 1/4" thick and very uneven. Because of
the lack of natural wood in Egypt, the art of veneering gained a high level of
craftmanship. Some examples of Egpytian veneer works have been found in several tombs and
can be seen in museums worldwide.
In ancient times, the use of veneer reached its zenith during the Roman Empire Era. The
Romans developed bow saws, and hand planes that allowed the veneer to be cut in wider and
thinner sheets. They also used more exotic woods and designs.
During the dark ages, the use of veneer nearly stopped. There were brief revivals in veneering
during the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. It wasn't until the late 1800's when powered
knife-slicer and rotary lathes where invented that the pratical manufacturing of veneer
was matured.
Decorative Veneer Cuts
International Veneer Co. uses two different kinds of machines
to produce four different veneer cuts. The machines are a half-round and vertical
slicers. Depending on how the log is manufactured in the sawmill, these machines will
produce a flat cut, quarter sliced, half-round, or rift-cut sliced veneer.
Flat cut veneer is the most popular. The veneer is sliced parallel to the
center of the log. The annual growth rings then form a distinctive pattern called
cathedral.
Quarter slicing is also cut on the flat slicer but
the log has been manufactured into quarters. This cut produces a straight grain appearance
by slicing perpendicularly to the annual growth rings
On the half-round machine, the log is moved in a circular motion against a stationary knife.
This cuts the veneer in an arc parallel to the annual growth rings.
Rift-cut veneer is manufactured on the half-round machine. By slicing the
log in an arc, the veneer has straight grain similar to quarter slicing. This type of manufacturing is
especially popular for red and white oak veneer.
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