Timber Veneer
At VJS, we take pride in our extensive range of more than 40 species of natural timber veneer boards, available on various substrates. We also provide a comprehensive selection of matching edging options to perfectly complement each veneer. Whether you prefer natural timber veneer or the latest man-made veneers from renowned brands like New Age Veneer, Eveneer, VJS has got you covered.
Our expertise lies in natural veneers, and we stand unrivalled in our professional approach and stock holding of natural timber veneered boards. Natural veneer showcases the distinct characteristics of the timber species and logs it originates from, ensuring a wide range of features to cater to every need. We source veneers from both native and imported timber varieties, ensuring the unique beauty of natural timber is preserved.
It’s important to note that natural veneer is available in different forms and cuts, resulting in varying grain patterns. As a natural product, it’s crucial to understand that the colour and grain of the same timber species can differ significantly. Therefore, batch control samples may be necessary in some instances to ensure consistency.
Please be aware that the colour and grain depicted in images are indicative only and may not be accurately represented photographically.
At VJS, we strive to deliver exceptional quality and service for all your timber veneer needs.
VJS are giving the Timber Veneer board a new look
Ideal for feature doors and panels in commercial and domestic bathrooms, kitchens, furniture and joinery, our Timber Veneer Wire Brush Service can be applied to most of our Timber Veneers.
Using a revolutionary sander to apply a wire brush finish giving a more defined grain to the board. This process favours crown cut veneers but the final look will vary from species to species creating an original and unique look for your feature.
The Minimum size for this service is 0305x0120x3.6mm with the Maximum size being 3660x1250x50mm.
What is Timber Veneer?
Timber veneer is a decorative building material comprising thin slices of timber glued onto substrates like Particleboard, MDF and even Plywood. It has been favoured by builders and designers since ancient times as the finest and most efficient use of valuable timbers.
Veneer is produced as a thin layer of timber that is uniform in thickness. The veneer is normally between 0.5 and 0.85mm thick in Australia and New Zealand.
Timber veneer is from a natural and renewable resource competing with non-renewable commodities like steel, aluminium and plastics.
The surface coverage of veneer is approximately forty times more than 25mm timber, which makes it the most economical way of utilising precious wood. One cubic metre of log produces around 1,000 square metres of real timber in veneer form. No other form of woodworking material results in such an efficient use with minimal wastage.
Some of the benefits of using real timber in veneer form include:
A design collaboration with nature
The natural variation of timber means every log, and therefore every project, is individual. No two veneers are exactly alike. The ‘fingerprints’ of nature lift your designs above what is achievable with man-made alternatives. You can choose from a vast array of timber species, colours, and grains. The final veneer finish is virtually identical to solid timber.
The warmth and depth of timber
Timber veneers add natural warmth and ambience to projects and is gentle to the touch.
Prestige and versatility
Timber veneer is a sought-after, premium decorative finish that adds prestige and style to furniture and joinery. Timber veneers can be moulded to fit many shapes, and when adhered to a stable commodity substrate, provided the versatility of solid timber, our oldest, yet most modern material
Maximises nature’s resources
Each metre of timber typically provides around 1,000 slices of timber veneer, making it a highly efficient and sustainable use of wood
Ecologically sensible solution
Timber veneer is a 100% natural product and not made from petro-chemicals. The industry is committed to sustainable forest resources.
Birdseye
Birdseye figure can be seen on back-cut surfaces of certain species (commonly Maple) as numerous rounded areas resembling small eyes. It is caused by small conical depressions of the growth rings accompanied by considerable fibre distortions.
Block Mottle
An irregular variegation in the wood structure having broad cross markings, broken by variations in strip that shows as blocky patches across the grain of the veneer. Commonly found in Makore and Anegre.
Butt
Where the roots form into the solid stump there can be considerable distortion into wavy ripple marks – there is always the distorted grain figure, along with greater or lesser amounts of the wavy cross figure.
Burl / Burr
Large abnormal wart like growths on trees produce some of the most prized veneers. Burl veneers display an attractive pattern of tightly packed bud formations that appear as rings and dots and result in an attractive and unusual figure whichever way it is cut. Leaf sizes are generally small and burl veneer is difficult to work.
Cluster
Cluster figure are veneers that are mostly figured but with clusters or patches of burl.
Curly
Found mostly in North American Maple or Birch, curly figure occurs when the fibres are distorted producing a small but strong irregular undulation in the veneer.
Fiddleback
This figure is similar to curly except the strong but fine undulations are regular. When quarter cut the wavy patterns appear as lustrous bars across the veneer leaf. The wood gets its name from its historical use for violin backs.
Flame / Curl / Crotch
Revealed when a trunk or heavy branch with two forking branches is cut through its collective centre, this highly prized veneer cut is from just below the fork of a tree.
Mottle
A variegated pattern that consists principally of irregular, wavy fibres extending for short distances across the face, with some irregular cross figure in twisted interwoven grain resulting in a broken, stripe figure.
Pommele
Resembles a puddle surface during a light rain. A dense pattern of small rings enveloping one another, perhaps even a ‘suede’ or ‘furry’ look usually found in extremely large trees of African species like Sapele, Bubinga, and Makore. Some domestic species with a sparser, larger figure are referred to as ‘blistered’.
Quilted
Resembles a larger, more exaggerated version of pommele figure – the cellular figure is elongated and closely crowded giving it a shimmering, pillowy, 3D effect. Commonly found in Maple, Mahogany, Moabi, and Sapele.
Stripe
Produced by quarter slicing timber that has interlocked grain i.e. the angle of the fibres periodically changes or reverses in successive layers, resulting in a straight, uniform, stripy effect – common in almost all timber with a wide variety of characters.
Swirl
A figure caused by irregular grain in the region of a knot the grain tends to swirl around in a random pattern.
Different Veneer Cuts
Veneer is cut and manufactured from long sections or saw glitches.
Veneer is produced by slicing or peeling logs. It is sliced at approximately 0.6mm (this is normal thickness for the Australian market) or can be peeled at various thicknesses.
Several cut methods are used to create various wood grain patterns. The most commonly produced grains are: Crown, Quarter, and Rotary.
Examples of the same species (Hoop Pine) of veneer cut in three different ways:
Other cuts exist and highlight specific features such as Birdseye, Quiltes, Pommele or Burl/Burr (refer to the diagram below).
Different Veneer Matching and Joining
Varied visual effects can be achieved by different methods of joining.
The most common production joining methods are:
Book Matching
The most commonly used method, book matching is when consecutive veneer leaves in a flitch are turned over like the pages in a book, as the reverse side of one leaf is a mirror image of the succeeding leaf, the result is a series of pairs.
Slip Matching
Successive veneer leaves in a flitch are ‘slipped’ one alongside the other so the result is a series of grain repeats.
Mismatched/Random Match
Veneer leaves are random matched for effect – simulates a planked effect. Useful for dispersing clusters of characteristics such as knots.
Reverse Slip Matching
Veneer leaves are slip matched, then every second leaf is turned end for end – effectively balancing crowns in the leaves so that all the crowns do not appear at one end.
End Match/Butt Joining
Where the length of the veneer does not permit its fabrication into the desired height of panel, it may be matched with vertical butts, as well as with horizontal book match joins.
Quarter/Four Way Matching
This is the most common method of joining burls. The pattern can be continued in all directions until the panel size is obtained. These panels can be continued in a sequence matched manner.
Sunburst
Selected veneer prepared and matched, converging to a centre point.
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