Photo: practicalowl / Flickr

Veneers are extremely thin sheets of wood that can be used to cover or decorate a wooden base. Just as wood is unique and not always uniform, so is veneer. These paper thin veneers are often described according to their source. They can be called crown, burr, burl, butt, ray, birds-eye, curly or striped, for instance. Inlays, on the other hand, serve to decorate table tops and wooden doors. Although they were historically created by highly-skilled carpenters, they can be bought ready made today.

The basics of veneer

Using veneer as a finish instead of solid wood does not imply a loss of character. A sheet of veneer may contain knots, splits, insect holes or ragged edges. Straight grain veneers are cut from a tree trunk across the growth rings. This results in large sized veneer with ‘stripes’ down the length.

Burrs or bulrs are cut from growths on trees, allowing for dappled finishes. Butts are cut from the base of a tree, which results in wavy patterns. Crowns, which are cut from the top of a tree, have Y-shaped patterns. Birds-eye veneers are cut from hardwoods that have died or have been damaged. This results in all sorts of strange patterns.

Veneers can be dyed, as they have been for around a hundred years. The veneer is saturated with a dye. The coloured veneer can then be incorporated with other coloured veneers or with natural wood veneers.

Using veneer

Pairs of veneers can be used in all sorts of ways to create different patterns. It’s important to keep them in order as they are cut. To use the veneer, it will have to be dampened, pressed and edged with gummed tape. Ask your supplier to show you how to achieve this or do some research before you begin.

Motifs

Motifs can be used to decorate furniture. Thin sections of coloured wooden inlays can be used to form an edge or a line. This is called stringing and it can be an attractive finish for panels and edges. Ribbon-like patterned strips can be use to great effect on the join between different woods. This is referred to as banding.

Inlay motifs are made from dyed and natural coloured veneers. These decorative marquetry designs are often laser cut. The wood can be scorched with hot sand to create a three dimensional effect. Geometrical veneer designs are called parquetry.

As said, motifs were traditionally created by skilled carpenters. Of course you could make them yourself by hand if you are so inclined. This could be a cost effective and rewarding route to go if you have the time.

Tags: diy, furniture