WHAT IS VENEER? - THE VENEER PRODUCTION PROCESS

WHAT IS VENEER? - THE VENEER PRODUCTION PROCESS

WHAT IS VENEER WOOD?
 
What is veneer wood? Veneer wood is a type of natural wood that is sliced into thin sheets with a thickness of about 0.6mm to under 3mm, depending on the intended use, and it is rare for any sheet to exceed 3mm (approximately 1/8 inch). A single natural wood log can produce a large amount of veneer wood when sliced thinly.
 
After being sliced, veneer wood is attached to various types of engineered wood substrates such as MDF, HDF, fiberboard, plywood, and particleboard to create furniture products or items like guitars, pianos, and violins...
 
hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 1
                         Illustrative image: Veneer wood is sliced thin from natural wood.
Veneer originates from natural wood, but furniture made from veneer wood does not belong to the category of natural wood furniture because veneer wood is made from engineered wood core with a surface covered by a layer of natural wood (veneer).
 
Therefore, the concepts of veneer and veneer wood are different. Because the surface is covered with a layer of veneer, there will not be many visible differences between natural wood and veneer wood. Products with a veneer surface are always highly regarded for their quality, durability, and superior features. In particular, veneer is a good solution for protecting environmental resources, especially in the context of precious wood being at risk of depletion.
 
The color palette of veneer is also very diverse, depending on the grain and color of the type of wood being sliced. Some types of solid wood used to make veneer include mahogany, oak, ash, chestnut, and pine...
 
THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING VENEER WOOD
 
There are 5 methods to slice veneer: rotary peeling, flat slicing, quarter slicing, sawed flat, and quarter sawing with a tangential cut. The production process for veneer and wood veneer is as follows:

Veneer production – wood slicing

Stay - log Peeling

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 2

                                           Illustrative image: Veneer Wood - Production of eccentric Stay-log Peeling veneer.

Rift Peeling

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 3

                            Illustrative image: Veneer Wood - Production of eccentric Rift Peeling veneer.

Rotary Peeling

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 4

                                         Illustrative image: Veneer Wood - Production of eccentric Rotary Peeling veneer.

Flat Cut

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 5

                                    Illustrative image: Veneer Wood - Production of eccentric Flat Cut veneer.

False Quarter Cut

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 6

                                            Illustrative image: Veneer Wood - Production of eccentric False Quarter Cut veneer.

VENEER WOOD PRODUTION

  • Step 1: Prepare solid wood from oak, walnut, yellow acacia, etc. These types need to undergo basic processing such as peeling, boiling or soaking, removing resin, and drying or kiln drying. 
  • Step 2: Slice the wood into thin sheets ranging from 0.6mm to under 3mm. 
  • Step 3: Dry the wood sheets using industrial dryers. Do not expose them to natural sunlight as high temperatures can cause the sheets to warp or break easily. 
  • Step 4: Apply glue to the surface of the industrial wood core (MFC, MDF, finger joint wood, etc.) and then attach the veneer to the glued surface. The commonly used glue is UF, with the main component being NH4CL. Its advantages include being non-toxic, having good adhesion, quick curing, and being waterproof. 
  • Step 5: Join the veneer to the wood core and then press the two layers together using a cold or hot press. These operations are all performed automatically. 
  • Step 6: After the veneer layer is fixed on the wood core, use a sanding machine to process the surface, polishing it to be flat and smooth. 
  • Step 7: Inspect the product and then distribute it.

What types of veneer wood are there?

In the market, it is currently impossible to accurately determine how many types of veneer there are, as veneer boards are made by slicing thin layers from various types of natural wood and then gluing them onto a veneer board. Each type of wood that is sliced and glued will create a different type of veneer. 

Once the veneer wood is produced and turned into a product, the wood veneer layer will be clearly visible, but the core inside cannot be identified. Each type of wood core will have different durability and water resistance.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF VENEER WOOD

Any product has its own advantages and disadvantages, and veneer wood is no exception.

Advantages Of Veneer Wood :

  • Veneer wood has high aesthetic value: the surface of veneer wood is covered with veneer sourced from natural wood, so the products made have colors and grain patterns similar to natural wood. The color palette of veneer wood is also very diverse, meeting various usage needs. 
  • Veneer wood is cheaper than natural wood: while the color and grain of walnut wood are beautiful, the cost is relatively high; instead, customers can choose walnut veneer furniture.
  •  The surface of veneer wood is glossy, reducing the risk of warping and insect damage.
  •  Veneer wood can be adjusted, arranged, and matched in various ways (cross-matching, horizontal, vertical, grain reversal, etc.) to create a product with high aesthetic appeal.
  •  Veneer wood can be used to produce many different valuable items and furniture.

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 7

                               Illustrative image: Veneer wood has many advantages in terms of aesthetics, cost, and quality.

Disadvantages Of Veneer Wood :

  • Due to the wood core being made from engineered wood, veneer has limited water resistance and is prone to damage or cracking. Veneer should only be used in dry areas with minimal exposure to water. Kitchen cabinets and shelves should be regularly wiped dry to prevent water from lingering on the surface, which can lead to mold. 
  • The veneer sheets are very thin, so the furniture made from them can easily get scratched during use.

Applications Of Veneer Wood :

Veneer wood is used in many areas of life. With a diverse color palette and an appearance similar to natural wood, veneer wood is commonly used to make furniture such as wooden floors, cabinets, bookshelves, and beds...

hinh anh go veneer la gi tim hieu cach phan loai cac loai veneer so 8                                     Illustrative image: Veneer wood is used to make wooden doors.

Not only is veneer wood highly aesthetic, but it is also favored for its durable quality and reasonable price, making it widely used in home and office interiors. We hope the above article has helped customers gain a better understanding of the concept of veneer wood and its applications in everyday life.

* The information in the article is for general reference only and does not constitute expert opinion.

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