Reconstituted Veneer
Reconstituted veneer, also known as recon, engineered, or man-made veneer, is crafted from natural wood strips that are dyed, laminated, and sliced to form a distinctive, patterned leaf. Reconstructed veneers are manufactured from readily available timbers such as Poplar, Obeche or Bamboo, which are normally plantation grown.
The logs are rotary peeled into veneers, which are then dyed all the way through, and dried. Layers of variously coloured veneers are then laminated together in moulds in a controlled pattern to form ‘grain’ patterns that are then re-sliced into veneers.
These veneer sheets are then applied to substrates like MDF or particleboard, making them perfect for manufacturing furniture and joinery. Unlike natural timber veneers, reconstituted veneers are free from imperfections like knots and splits, offering a consistent colour, pattern, and grain.
Difference between Natural Veneer and Reconstituted Veneer
NATURAL VENEER
Natural veneer, as the name suggests is 100% natural and nothing artificial is incorporated. It’s pure, sliced timber.
Natural timber veneer is cut from selected logs prepared for production according to the desired appearance, which depends on the feature and structure of the grain. Natural veneer reflects the species of timber and log from which it comes. It delivers a wide range of natural variation creating a significant selection within a single species.
RECONSTRUCTED VENEER
Reconstructed veneers are manufactured from readily available timbers such as Poplar, Obeche or Bamboo, which are normally plantation grown.
The logs are rotary peeled into veneers, which are then dyed all the way through, and dried. Layers of variously coloured veneers are then laminated together in moulds in a controlled pattern to form ‘grain’ patterns that are then re-sliced into veneers.
The way the layers of the veneers are arranged and then are sliced depends on the desired pattern. The process is fully automated and often involves the use of computer software to produce different veneer figures and pattern.
The advantages of reconstructed veneer are:
- Excellent consistency in colour and repeated grain pattern
- A wide range of colours and patterns achievable
- Can be easier to match or replace the same patterns.
Stay In The Know