Veneering

Veneering is the process of applying a thin sheet of wood, called a veneer, to a non-wood or less-expensive core material to give the appearance of solid wood. Veneers are produced by rotary cutting, slicing, or peeling from a log, yielding sheets typically 0.6 to 3 millimeters thick.

Common substrates include plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fibreboard; in furniture and cabinetry, edges are finished with edge banding to cover exposed cores. Veneering can be done with hot or cold adhesives. Traditional hides glue was used historically; modern methods rely on urea- and phenol-formaldehyde resins, polyvinyl acetate, or polyurethane adhesives. Bonding typically involves heat and pressure using a hot press, a cold press, or vacuum bagging.

After bonding, veneer is trimmed and sanded; finishing may include sealing, staining, and clear coatings. Veneering is widely used in furniture, cabinetry, architectural paneling, and decorative specialties; it is also used in musical instruments and automotive interiors.

Advantages include reduced use of high-quality timber, the ability to simulate rare or highly figured woods, and stable dimensional behavior. Disadvantages include vulnerability at edges and seams, potential for veneer checking or peeling, and the need for skilled workmanship.

Environmental considerations: when sourced responsibly, veneering can lower overall timber use, but formaldehyde emissions from some adhesives and energy use in pressing are considerations. Veneering techniques have a long history and became central to mass-produced furnishings in the modern era.