Wood Veneers: Tips & Features

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“The photo shows the actual veneer you will receive…”

You may see this noted beneath our product descriptions. We take our time to photograph each individual bundle to highlight a more accurate image of the veneer and its figuring or grain. We delight in this process as we feel this is extremely important especially with highly figured veneers such as burrs.

Our photos are not generic examples to only show the typical wood species but show the actual veneer you will receive. There may be very small variations in grain as we get through the bundle from first to final leaf.

Each bundle is individually photographed to accurately depict its unique grain.

Wood Veneer Product Codes

You may notice each wood veneer will have a number within its product description such as ‘Boxwood Wood Veneer No. 10’.

We assign a number to each bundle or log so that we can easily identify and distinguish between them. Ultimately, easing your order processing time!

Ordering Multiple Leaves

We will always send consecutive leaves if you order multiples of the same wood veneer. We know this is important should you be looking to book match them.

Please note, book matching most species on the length is often very accurate but book matching the widths (an end to end) can be quite difficult and may not create a very accurate match. This is also especially true with wider grain species such as, Magnolia (North American Tulipwood), Oaks and Pine.

Read more on wood veneer matching here.

Sanding Guidelines

Sand with care! Please take care when sanding wood veneers, especially naturally darker toned or coloured wood veneers, in particular with the red and black dyed woods. The dust created when sanding needs to be brushed away completely before applying any type of polishing or it may become trapped beneath the polishing and be especially visible on surrounding (lighter) woods.

We suggest sampling your polishing method with small pieces of your chosen veneer(s) before doing so on a big project.

Original Marquetry Ltd will not be held responsible for any damage or mistakes caused to the veneer by the customer including, but not limited to sanding dust transfers or any other damage due to not testing finishing methods.

Choosing the Right Adhesive for Wood Veneers

Pearl/animal glue is recommended for most projects and is especially good for restorations and antique pieces.

Contact glue is ideal for shaped items rather than flat, and when wood veneer cannot be placed under a press or in clamps. Please note that once two items are covered in this glue and they make contact, they cannot be pulled apart. There are no second chances with this glue!

Glue film and other wood adhesives such as PVA are better suited for new projects. Ideal when the surfaces to be glued are in great condition, top quality wood veneers, and most importantly, are flat. We do NOT recommend glue film to be used with wood veneers over 0.6mm in thickness, as the thickness may stop the glue from penetrating. If using with burr wood veneers, we recommend testing a small section before applying to the full leaf.

Thicknesses

Thicknesses vary but are generally available as follows. Occasionally this may differ, so be sure to check the thickness stated in the product description.

Standard (Decorative) Wood Veneer	0.6mm to 0.8mm
Burr Wood Veneer	0.6mm to 0.8mm
Coloured Wood Veneer	0.6mm
Constructional Wood Veneer	1.4mm to 2.5mm
Saw Cut Wood Veneer	1.5mm to 6.0mm
Oyster Wood Veneer	1.5mm

Wood Veneer Types Comparison

Features	(Decorative) Wood Veneer	Saw Cut Wood Veneer	Burr Wood Veneer	Coloured Wood Veneer	Constructional Wood Veneer	Oyster Wood Veneer
Cutting Method	Sliced	Circular saw	Sliced burr	Sliced & dyed	Double knife cut	Sliced cross-section of branches or roots
Thickness	0.6mm – 0.8mm	1.5mm – 6mm	0.6mm – 0.8mm	0.6mm	1.4mm to 2.5mm	1.5mm
Surface Prep	Smooth	Smooth, may need sanding	Brittle, may need repair	Smooth, needs care when sanding	Smooth, may need sanding	Uneven, may require flattening and drying
Colour	Often darker	Natural	Rich, varied grain patterns	Uniformly dyed	Natural	Natural, circular growth rings
Durability	Moderate	High	Moderate	Moderate	High	Moderate
Flexibility	High	Low	Moderate to Low	High	Moderate to Low	Low
Common Applications	Cabinetry, marquetry, curved surfaces	Flooring, sturdy furniture	Luxury furniture, car dashboards, marquetry	Decorative accents, inlays	Stair treads, large projects	Antique furniture, jewellery boxes, marquetry
Pros	High yield, versatile	Strong, durable	Visually striking	Creative versatility	High durability	Unique aesthetic
Cons	Less durable than thicker types	Lower yield, more material waste	Fragile, may need repairs	Unnatural appearance	Less flexibility	Fragile, limited size, labour intensive