STEPHAN WOODWORKING

Veneer has a number of advantages not shared by solid wood.

• Veneer allows use of dramatic figure that would be too unstable as boards (crotch figure) or too small to use (burls).
• Almost all veneer consists of consecutive thin slices of a log, and are kept in sequence. Book, slip, starburst and other types of decorative matches using consecutive sheets can produce a number of different effects, some very striking and some very uniform.
• Curved surfaces made using bending plywood or laminations can be covered with veneer. Such shapes would be very difficult or impossible using solid wood.
• Inlays and marquetry require use of veneers because of the seasonal movement of wood - different varieties of wood expand and contract at different rates. This movement in a thin slice of veneer can be resisted by the substrate (plywood or other sheet good).
• For large surfaces such as table tops, a few sheets of veneer and sufficient substrate can be much less expensive than solid wood.
• Finally, veneer requires far less harvesting of trees than solid wood.

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