23 Going with the grain
Here, Gregg Wright of Reliance Veneer explains how the demand for decorative timbers combined with modern manufacturing techniques not only makes environmental sense, but can also enhance design
H
ave you ever looked at a beautiful piece of furniture and wondered how the distinctive patterns and figuring repeats are achieved, chances are it’s through the use of wood veneer. Veneer is typically produced from the highest quality woods available and although production methods have advanced the basic technique has been used for thousands of years.
Many people perceive solid wood to be of higher quality than a product made using veneered panels, but veneered panels have many benefits over solid timber which can be exceptionally heavy, can expand and contract with moisture changes in the air, and even warp if the surrounding conditions are extreme enough. By contrast, manmade panels have wood fibres and glue crossing in so many directions that the panels are able to remain stable in some of the harshest conditions.
The use of wood veneer in conjunction with the advancements in laminated and fibre panels, such as MDF or plywood, give architects and designers exceptional creative opportunities. As well as being an environmentally sound choice, reducing the demand on natural wood resources and helping to limit deforestation, use of veneer also makes sound economic sense, allowing designers to enhance furniture with unusual or exotic woods, the use of which would be prohibitively expensive in their solid form. Currently there are in excess of 120 natural species available for veneer production in Europe. Timber is a natural resource and as such, no two logs are identical, and even within the same species, logs will vary in grain pattern, colour and markings. There are many environmental factors that will determine the suitability of logs for veneer production. Weather patterns in Europe are different to those in North America and this gives rise to different grain structures. European timber
Veneer is typically produced from the highest quality woods available, and although production methods have advanced the basic technique has been used for thousands of years
species often show more colour variation and the texture can be more course and brittle than the equivalent American species. Veneer logs have to be carefully selected for quality, as manufacturing is an expensive and exacting process. In Europe and the Americas, veneer is typically cut into three standard thicknesses depending on the application for which it will be used, most commonly 0.6 mm with only about 16 species being commercially available thicker. Timbers cut more than 2.5 mm thick are normally classified as
ADF AUGUST 2018
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