Using wood veneers may seem simple but there are definite nuances and subtle details that you need to learn, and you’ll eventually encounter them over the course of your career. You can minimize the risk of wasting time, materials, effort, and other resources by learning best practice, a least in theory, for fabrication and installation. [This document is accurate, but published in 2004 and some references such as the use of Urea adhesives are now discouraged.
You need to think about:
• Grain patterns – grain patterns are the main aesthetic feature of wood veneers, and can make them very distinct. Grain patterns depend on several factors, such as the angle of cut and the part of the tree from which it is derived
• Where you source your wood – make sure you’re using a credible supplier that will provide high-quality veneers
• Tools for fabricating with veneers – standard tools include straight edges and rules, a cutting mat, veneer saw, veneer hammers, pins, veneer tapes, and a shooting board, however, many production shops have sophisticated sizing, cutting and pressing equipment.
• The type of project you’re working on – are you doing veneers for a hotel lobby, an office, or someone’s home? The size of your project also determines factors such as the amount of material you’ll need and how long it will take
• Methods for cutting veneers – there are different methods for cutting veneers depending on the patterns you need and the surface area on which to install the veneers. Some surface areas could be irregular in shape
• Veneer substrates – there are various types of substrates available. These are the support surfaces, which include solid timber, particleboard, medium density fibreboard, plywood, and blockboard
• Selecting your finish – transparent finishes help to bring the wood to life
Choose wood types
When working with wood veneers, it’s important to choose the right type of wood. That doesn’t just mean whether it’s hardwood or softwood, but looking at biological characteristics will help you determine how you’ll work with the veneer. Considerations include:
• Species of tree – the type and quality of veneer can depend on the species of tree. There are at least 60,000 known species of timber but only a handful species, such as Oak, Maple, Walnut, Cherry, are commonly used.
• Annual growth rings – tree species that are grown in countries with temperate climate have growth rings that are well-defined in terms of the weather variations of the seasons. The density and colors between the rings are distinctive, providing unique patterns when the wood is sawed. In comparison, tropical tree species have steadier growth patterns.
• Heartwood – if you want durability, you should examine the heartwood. It’s made up of inactive tree cells that are formed in the living cells of the inner sapwood rings which can also provide a wide variation in color. The materials that are deposited in them make the wood more durable.
• Medullary rays – these are the parts that store and transport food produced by the tree. The rays radially extend from the center of a tree toward its circumference. They produce the fleck effect on the log.
• Photodegradation – pigments in the wood may vary depending on their reaction to sunlight or to artificial light. A surface that is commonly exposed photodegrades more pronouncedly with uniform color. Some types of wood, like walnut, are more susceptible to photodegradation.
• Oxidation – Oxygen has an effect on the exposed parts of the wood and may cause discoloration. Many hardwoods may have deep yellow to reddish brown discolorations when it is cut. The sawing or peeling process will result in discoloration of the exposed surfaces.
Natural veneer and engineered veneer each have their own styles, which one do you prefer? Decoration is really a huge science. Nowadays, there are more and more types of decoration materials, and the gimmicks in the mall are becoming more and more fancy. Don’t place an order in a daze. If you have any questions, you can ask Veneer Hub first.