Another common decorative surfacing material used in the lamination industry is natural wood veneer. Veneer surfaces add warmth to any environment, making them ideal for furniture, cabinetry, casegoods, and other residential and commercial applications. A sustainable alternative to solid wood, the veneer flitch is laid up on composite cores, typically MDF or particleboard, with the cut and panel match playing a critical role in the appearance — and cost — of the final project. 

Veneer is commonly sliced in one of four ways: rotary, plain, quarter, or rift cut. In a rotary cut, veneer is peeled from a log, resulting in large pieces with flat, random grain patterns. Because of pattern irregularity, rotary cuts are typically used for projects where a low price point is more important than a consistent appearance. Plain sliced veneer is considered the most common method and typically produces the highest yield, resulting in a cathedral grain pattern with veneer leaves 6 to 12 inches wide. This veneer is ideal for doors, wall panels, and furniture.

When quarter sliced, veneer leaves are cut consecutively, making them easy to match. This method produces smaller veneer leaves and can be more expensive; it is applied primarily in cabinetry, flooring, and high-end custom furniture. Also used in high-end furniture, rift cut veneers, typically oak, are cut at a 15-degree angle to the log’s radius resulting in a straight grain pattern. 

Inspiration: Veneered panels are used in a variety of commercial and residential applications including high-quality furniture, cabinetry, casegoods, and paneling.

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Once cut, the veneers are matched to a pattern. Below are some common types of matches.

• Book match: Every other leaf of the veneer is turned over so that adjacent leaves are “opened” as two pages of a book.
• Slip match: Adjoining leaves slip out in sequence, with all the same face sides being exposed.
• Plank match: This creates a rustic effect, like glued lumber planks. It is made when dissimilar veneer leaves are assembled in a specific order.
• Swing match: Every other veneer leaf slipped and spun 180 degrees.
• Random match: The random selection from one or more flitches produces a deliberate mismatch between the veneer pieces.
• Balance match: Two or more veneer components or leaves of equal width make up a single face.
• Center match: An equal number of veneer components or leaves of equal width are matched with a joint in the center of the panel to achieve horizontal symmetry.
• Running match: The panel face is assembled from as many veneer leaves as necessary.