Veneer cutting methods

The principal methods of veneer cutting are:

Quarter cut
The log is cut along its length to form four separate flitches. These are then sliced at 90° to the growth rings to provide sheets which have a striped or planked appearance when assembled.

Crown cut
The log is simply sliced along its length, resulting in a figured appearance with less vertical emphasis than Quarter cut.

Rotary Cut
The log is simply peeled to give a continuous veneer, generally used for constructional plywood. Veneer sheets cannot be matched except for general colour characteristics and their appearance is wild and flowery.

The following four veneering methods can be repeated over pairs of doors, overpanels and side panels:

Consecutively laid (Slip Matched)
The lay-on is assembled across the face of the door using adjacent sheets as cut from the flitch.
Sheets are laid next to each other in the same order and with the same face outward resulting in a planked effect. Also available is random slip matched.

Book matched
Two adjacent sheets, as cut from the flitch, are placed next to each other and one is turned over to create a mirror image. This can be repeated over the door and used to create a central focus.

Quartered
The veneers are laid reversed about two axes so that a mirror image is created in both width and height. Sheets can be cut and arranged to give a centred feature. All veneered doors have hardwood lippings to both vertical edges, softened with a 3mm radius, or alternatively to all 4 edges. These can either be exposed or concealed as required. Lippings are selected to colour match either the veneer or frame.

Centre jointed
Equal numbers of sheets are used working outwards from the centre line of the door in width. Sheets are selected so that the left half of the door matches the right half, resulting in a mirror image. Alternatively adjacent sheets can be consecutively laid.

Centre feature
An unequal number of sheets is used and the central veneer is used for its striking appearance. To emphasise its focal position the remaining sheets can be laid so that those on the left half mirror those on the right half. Alternatively adjacent sheets can be consecutively laid.


Contrasting inlay
Veneers from different timbers can be laid on the same door to produce a variety of effects ranging from subtle differences to the most striking design statement.