The hardwood alternative

by side, snme sides up, to create a grain pattern more mifqm tban book march; whole-piece - a single panel of continuous grain veneer; pleesiry match - matched for color, but not necessarily grain characteristics; unmatched - no color, pattern or grain uniformity, usually used for panel backs; mismetch or random match - a casual, unmatched effect

Veneer cuts produce mique visual effects. In a rotary cut, the log is turned against a blade which follows the annulr growth rings o p,rofuce a long srip of veneerwith abold variegated grain. This method is used to cut 8G90% of all venes.

In plain or flat slioed v€ne6, slicing is done parallel !o a line though the center of a half log or flirch positioned beart side down against the slioe/s guide plate. A vuiegated figure similar to sawn lumber is produced.

Half-round slicing places log segments off center for a cut slightly across the annual gowth rings. Often used on red md whle oal, tt modides the charrcteristics of ro6y and plain slied veneers.

Arcmatic Cedar Ligbt red with streeks of ligbt Krdy withcAernroral chlnctarfutica rcscDt.

Story at a Glance

Ways hadwood plyrood can be used as an altemfre lbr solld hardwood ... Yenccl pattems ... cutdng, flnlshlng optlons.

Rift cut s cmb grain, aclieved by cutting perpenOiqlrty to medullry rays, cm be dme mly on oak lladwood plywood ounes in fou grades: A-l (boot or slip matched, rotary or plain sliced); B-2 Growth cbarrceristics on f@, no op€n r€as, color and grain ulatOed); C-3 (nina repairs on face), and D-3 (natural growth daracteristbs on he).

Use the chart to show your custornefs how th spocies c<rnpdE.

Aromlb codrr ir kA nnCnidld.

Astl Palc hown heartwood and nculy white saowood. Straigb, nodctrtcly qcn gnin Ftillnogeddtpucutrrl lm

Birctr Ught trown, red hcartwood, nearlY whine san'od.

Gherry Ligbt reddish brown with tfn vellow saowmd.

Plain gnin dcn orly c wrvy. Vcry sd. T.tor triDr i! dl lrm-

Oe strright grain with rthy finich Fmiftc to e riltluncr.

Dakua Golden to dark reddish brown. Unifcm gnin, oftcn wrvy. Pdrr.d6rd$orrclt.

Hickory Tan to brown hcartwoo4 white smwmdModcretc. Blc.chcr rclL hlrcd moir nr|imrwldr*lnr

Honduras Mahogany Reddish hown. Finc to nr.dium straiglr graiu Finiftr rdl Gouellylrird nalirrm to drt-

Kaudamu Reddish hown heartwod, slightly lichter colored saDwood StrriCh. Finirhcr wdl.

Lauan Golden to reddish brown. Non-distinct. Vcryopcngnil. Ccocnfy striDcd !o Ddirm nd d[ttopr.

Maple Cream to ligtrt brown tinged with red. Srdgbt-gnircd ; somrims ford hiphlv fierncd.

Finirhcsvay mdly. Trbr ceins vcrv rclL

Red Oak Pinkish cast with white sapwood. Vcry prononccd, corsc gnin mlLn Blc&hcr vo[,udmcin mdium ro drt D.tnl tooca.

Walnut Ridr brown. Highly figurativc. Unsurpesd rnirhint- StriD.d b dckwood toocr.

WhiteOak Ught hown to greyish tinged heartwood, shades of ochre in the

Clce pronounced coarse grain pattem.

Finishes in same range as red oak Light tones are easily achievcd because ol absenco o[ Drn&sn cast.

Mfl.ifJ',T:I}:#NT#J:T species for cabinets, according to industry gurus. What does this trend mean to retailers?

"The industry has had oak for years and now people are ready for something fresher with a cleaner look," explained certified kirchen cabinet designer Connie Edwards. Still the most displayed hardwood species at the latest Kitchen/Bath Industry Show. oak accounted for 40Vo with maple close behind at 30Vo, followed by cherry atll%o.

Oak accounted for over 66Vo of.the market share of all wood cabinet doors, maple for l4%o and cherry for 77o in the latest Kitchen & Bath Business magazine report. However, Edwards, marketing design rnnager, Timberlake Cabinet Co., Winchester, Va., said complete shifts in consumer preference sometimes take decades. It may be years before maple actually takes the lead on the retail sales floor.

A return to daker woods is being predicted among color forecasters. Edwards noted this is already evident in furniture and paddle fans. "Many of the darker finishes, especially cherry, were featured on cabinets for rooms such as home theaters, vanities and wet bars," according to a Cab ine tM al<c r magazine s urve y.

Despite this initial interest in dark colors, natural tones are more popular with the Southwest trend in interior design. "There is a continued resurgence in the importance of ethnic origins and all things naorral and earthbound, when choosing cabinets, as opposed to things synthetic and glossy," said Edwards.

Medium finishes accounted for 32Vo of the wood cabinets at the recent kitchen/bath show, followed by light and pickled/whitewashed, each at207o, and dark atl97o.

Story at a Glance

How a retailer can handle changing preferences in hardwood species for cabinets.