Glossary of Terms

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ANNULAR : Refers to the pattern of the 'growth rings' on trees. In many cases, one ring is added each year (Latin - annum).

BACK : The category of cheaper veneers that are glued to the back of a panel in order to balance better quality veneers glued to the front face.
BALANCE CONSTRUCTION : A balancing back of equal or similar density to face veneer to prevent warpage by moisture and/or pulling.
BIRDSEYE : Figure on the surface of veneer exhibiting numerous rounded areas resembling small eyes. Caused by depression of the fibres.
BLEED THROUGH : Glue or components of glue that have seeped through the veneer sheet and that show as a blemish or discolouration on the surface.
BLUE STAIN : 1. Occurs where there is contact of green timber with iron. 2. Effects of fungal attack.
BLOCKBOARD : Composite board consisting of a core made up of narrow timber strips edge-glued to form a slab (corestock) which is then veneered.
BUNDLE : Comprises consecutive leaves of veneer, usually bound in groups of 24 or 32 leaves.
BURL : Small, localized distortions of grain caused by wounds or abnormal growth.

CATHEDRAL CUT : A variation of the Crown Cut method of slicing veneers. The growth rings are not exactly parallel to the slicer, producing on the face of the veneer an inverted 'V' figure resembling the spire of a cathedral.
CRAZING : Fine crackes which occur on or under the surface of a lacquer coating.
CROSS BAND : Where the grain direction runs along the width of the panel. Standard practice is for veneers to be laid with the grain direction along the length of the panel (long band).
CROWN CUT : A method of slicing veneers whereby the average inclination of the growth rings to the wider face is tangential or less than 45 degrees. This method is also known as Flat Cut.
CURE : The irreversible process of changing the physical properties of an adhesive by chemical reaction to attain bonding.

DELAMINATION : Separation of veneers from substrate through failure of the bond.

EDGE STRIP : A protective strip of solid wood or laminated veneer applied to the edge of a panel.

FACE : A term used to describe better quality veneers that are used to cover the visible surfaces of a panel.
FIGURE : The markings, often forming patterns, produced on the surface of wood as the result of the interaction of various natural features (such as colour, quantity of growth rings and contortions around knots) and the method by which the veneer is cut from the log.
- Curly Figure : A strong irregular figure found in North American Maple and Birch.
- Fiddleback Figure : See Wavy Figure.
- Ribbon Figure : A striped figure produced by cutting timber that has an interlocked grain. Also called Stripe Figure.
- Ropey Figure : Markings in the form of a twisted rope.
- Swirl Figure : A figure caused by irregular grain the the region of a knot.
- Wavy Figure : Markings in the form of waves or undulations.
- Figures with large undulations are described as 'wavy', while others with small, irregular undulations are 'curly, and those with small, regular undulations are 'fiddleback'.
- Wild Figure : Irregular markings.
FLAT CUT : See Crown Cut.
FLITCH : The section of a log formed when the log, after it has been trimmed to size, is cut through lengthwise, usually in quarters. Also, the bundle of veneer cut from a single flitch.

GLASSWORM : Straight diagonal tracks of distorted grain which usually intersect.
GRAIN : The direction and arrangement of the wood fibres in timber and veneer.
- Cross Grain : The fibres run at an angle to the tree. Also called Sloping Grain.
- Interlocked Grain : The angle of the fibres periodically changes or reverses in successive layers.
- Irregular Grain : The fibres contort and twist around knots, butts, curls and so on. Also called Wild Grain.
- Sloping Grain : See Cross Grain.
- Spiral Grain : The fibres form a spiral around the circumference of the tree.
- Straight Grain : The fibres run parallel to the vertical axis of the tree.
- Wild Grain : See Irregular Grain.
- Wavy Grain : The fibres form short, undulating waves in a regular sequence.
GROWTH RINGS : A layer of wood produced in one growing season which, in a cross section of a trunk or branch, is sometimes visible as a ring.
GUM VEIN : A ribbon of gum or kino between growth rings, which may be bridged radially by wood tissue at short intervals. Also known as Hobnail.

HEARTWOOD : In a growing tree, wood which no longer contains living cells and in which the reserve materials, such as starch, have been removed or changed into more durable substances.
HOBNAIL : See Gum Vein. Also a series of spots caused by infestation.

INLAYS : Pieces of veneer or other material which are inserted into the face of veneered board to produce borders or other special patterns.

KNOT : A portion of a branch which is enclosed in the wood by the natural growth of the tree.

LAMINATED VENEER EDGING (LVE) : Laminated veneer used as an alternative for solid timber edging.
LAYON : Veneers joined to create a usable size sheet.

MARQUETRY : Creating detailed pictures of patterns using small pieces of different veneers.
MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD (MDF) : Building board made from wood fibres bonded together with resin under pressure (also called Customwood and Craftwood).
MEDULLARY RAY : A ribbon- or flake-like patch of wood that runs in a radial direction in the wood (that is, straight out from the centre or nearly so).
MILL RUN : Veneer delivered from the production line unsorted and without grading. Usually has a combination of backing and face grade material in varying percentages.
MINERAL STAIN : Naturally occurring discolouration of the wood caused by elements in the soil.

PARTICLEBOARD : Building board made from small chips of wood bonded together with glue under pressure (also called chipboard).
PICKET FENCE : Book matching veneer strips appearing alternately light and dark.
PIPS : Small circular distortions in the grain.
PLYWOOD : An assembled product made up of 2 or more plies bonded together with the direction of the grain in alternate plies usually at right angles.
POCKET : A patch of bark completely or partially enclosed in the wood.
PROFILE WRAPPING : Wrapping veneer around a machined profile (e.g. architraves).

QUARTER CUT : A method of slicing veneers whereby the average inclination of the growth rings to the wide face is greater than 45 degrees.

RADIAL SURFACE : The surface of wood which has been cut along a plane containing the axis or the pith (that is, through the centre).
RAYS : A ribbon-like arrangement of cells.
RIFT CUT : A variation on the quarter cut appearance specifically used to hide the medullary ray in woods such as oak.
ROTARY VENEER : A veneer produced when a log mounted in a lathe is rotated against a cutting blade. This method of 'peeling' is used to produce decorative veneers from some species of timber and is also a common method of producing veneer for the manufacture of plywood.

SAPWOOD : The outer wood of the tree immediately under the bark. Generally it is lighter in colour than the heartwood, which is the part of the tree used for timber and veneer.
SEMI-ROTARY CUT : Veneer produced when a log or flitch is mounted off centre in the lathe, and the knife peels individual sheets.
SHEET LENGTH : Dimension in the direction of the grain of the face of the sheet.
SHEET WIDTH : Dimension perpendicular to the direction of the grain of the face of the sheet.
SLICING : Moving the knife or flitch in a straight line to produce individual sheets of veneer.
SOFT FORMING : Laminating veneer onto bullnosed edges.
SPLICING : Edge gluing strips of veneer to produce a sheet.
STITCHING : Joining strips of veneer edge to edge using a glue impregnated thread.
STRIPE : See Ribbon Figure.
SUBSTRATE : Base panel onto which veneer layons are applied.
SUGAR : Darker markings which resemble clusters of sugar crystals.

TEXTURE : Characteristic determined by the size and quality of the wood elements. Descriptive terms include fine, medium, coarse, uniform, even and uneven.
TRIMMING : Process of squaring and sizing panels to final face dimensions.

Briggs Veneers

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Glossary of Terms