The hardwood alternative

by side, same sides up, to create a grain pattern more uniform than book match; whole-piece - a single panel of continuous grain veneer; pleasing match - matched for color, but not necessarily grain characteristics; unmatched - no color, pattern or grain uniformity, usually used for panel backs; mismatch or random match - a casual, unmatched effect.

Veneer cuts produce unique visual effects. In a rotary cut, tle log is turned against a blade which follows the annular growth rings to produce a long strip of veneer with a bold variegated grain. This method is used to cut 80-907o of all veneer.

In plain or flat sliced veneer, slicing is done parallel to a line through the center of a half log or flirch positioned heart side down against the slicer's guide plate. A variegated figure similar to sawn lumber is produced.

Half-round slicing places log segments off center for a cut slightly across the annual growth rings. Often used on red and white oak, it modifies the characteristics of rotary and plain sliced veneers.

Story at a Glance

Ways hardwood plywood can be used as an alternative for solid hardwood ... veneer patterns ... cutting, finishing options.

Rift cut or comb grain, achieved by cutting perpendicularly to medullary rays, can be done only on oak.

Hardwood plywood comes in four grades: A-l (book or slip matched, rotary or plain sliced); B-2 (growth characteristics on face, no open arcas, color and grain matched); C-3 (minor repairs on face), and D-3 (natural growth characteristics on face).

Use the chart to show your customers how the species compare.

Speciee

Golor

Aromatic Cedar Ught red with streaks of light. Knotty with other natural characteristics oresent.

Ash Pale trown heartwood and nearlv white saowood, Straight, moderately open grain Datten.

Birch Light brown, red heartwood, nearly white sapwood.

Cherry Light reddish brown with thin vellow saowcxxl-

Aromatic cedar is left unfinished.

Full range of pigments or natural tonqs.

Plain grain often curly or wavy. Very smooth. Takes stains in all IOnes.

Close straight grain with satiny finish.

Finishes to a silk luster.

Dakua Golden to dark reddish trown. Uniform grain, often wavy. Paints and finishes well.

Hickory Tan to brown heartwood, white saowood.

Moderate.

Bleaches well, but used more in medium and dark tones.

Honduras Mahogany Reddish bown. Fine to medium straight grain. Finishes well. Generally stained medium to dark.

Kaudamu Reddish brown heartwood, slightly lishter colored saowood.

Straight. Finishes well.

Lauan Golden to reddish brown. Non-distinct.

Maple Cream to light brown tinged with reo.

Straight-grained; sometimes found hiehlv fisured.

Red Oak Pinkish cast with white sapwood. Very pronounced, coarse grain Daltern.

Walnut Rich brown. Highly frgurative.

\ /hite Oak Ught brown to greyish tinged heartwood, shades of ochre in the sanwood-

Close pronounced coarse grain pattern.

Very open grain. Generally stained to medium and dark tones.

Finishes very smoothly. Takes stains verv well.

Bleaches well. used more in medium to dark natural tones.

Unsrnpassed finishing. Stained to dark wood tones.

Finishes in same ranse as red oak. Light tones are easiliachieved because of absence of pinkish casl