Question 1

Is veneer considered a semi-finished product or a finished product?

Accepted Answer

According to FSC product classification standards, wood veneer is broadly categorized as a processed product, but it is more accurately classified as a semi-finished product within the wood product supply chain.

Veneer is produced from roundwood through slicing or peeling. However, it typically requires further processing, such as lamination, pressing, or trimming, before becoming a finished product like furniture, flooring, or decorative panels. Therefore, veneer clearly fits the definition of a semi-finished product.

Below is the supporting evidence based on official FSC standards:

FSC STD 40 004a V2 1, Product Classification
Under the WOOD PRODUCTS category, "W7 Veneer" is listed as a Level 1 category, with Level 2 sub categories including "W7.1 Peeled veneer", "W7.2 Sliced veneer", "W7.3 Saw veneer", "W7.4 Veneer strips".
This indicates that veneer is a processed material, beyond the raw material stage, but not yet a finished product.
FSC STD 50 001 V2 1, Definition of a Finished Product
A finished product is a product that requires no further transformation in terms of processing or packaging prior to its intended end use — i.e., it will not be remanufactured for the production of other FSC-certified products.
Veneer is typically used as an intermediate product for producing downstream goods such as plywood (W8), joinery (W11), and furniture (W12).
Since it undergoes further transformation and is not intended for end-use as-is, it does not meet the definition of a finished product.
FSC Trademark Standards, Use on Semi-Finished Products
FSC trademark standards allow certified companies to use FSC labels on semi-finished products only if the label is removable before further processing or transfer to non-certified entities.
This requirement further confirms that materials like veneer are considered semi-finished in the FSC Chain of Custody system.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of natural wood veneer?

Accepted Answer

The characteristics of natural wood veneer are as follows:

Diverse Texture and Color:
Each tree's growth rings, growth environment, and different cutting methods contribute to the varied texture, quality, and color changes in wood veneer.
Natural Aesthetics:
Dating back to ancient times, humans have had a deep affinity for wood. The textures, colors, and quality exhibited by natural wood veneer add warmth, comfort, and a sense of friendliness to interior spaces, reflecting the beauty and vitality of nature unlike synthetic materials.
Environmental Sustainability and Reusability:
Natural wood veneer is a sustainable, recyclable, and long-lasting material. Selecting wood from sustainably managed forests ensures a reliable, well-maintained, environmentally friendly, and sustainable source.
Durability:
Under normal conditions, wooden products (such as furniture, wood veneer decorative panels, wooden flooring, etc.) have a long lifespan if not intentionally damaged.

These are general specialties of nature wood veneer; however, each wood species with different features, such as density, moisture content, cost ….etc. Therefore, be considered to select the right/ suitable wood veneer is necessary and important.

Professional restoration techniques

Irreplaceable texture and color

Question 3

The Cuts Used to Create Veneer

Accepted Answer

Nature wood veneer are thin slices of wood made by cutting or slicing of the log. The best veneer thickness is 0.6mm. There are several cutting methods, such as quarter cut, flat cut, rift cut, and rotary cut. Different cutting methods create different grain of the veneer even they belong to the same species. Cutting method depends on many factors. For instance, log sizes, wood species, grain pattern preference and so on.

Quarter Cut

First, cut the log into four quarters, then slice each flitch to get stripped grain veneer. It results in flakes(flacky) due to medulary ray in Oak species.

Flat Cut

Flat Cut is also known as Plain Cut.
Cut the log into half, and then slice parallelled to the center of the log to create veneer with cathedral grain.

Rift Cut

Similar to quarter cut to get stripped grain; however, slicing with about 15° angle off of the quartered position to minimize the flake figure of medullary rays.

Rotaty Cut

The entire log is rotating and cut or peeled off via a long knife. This creates large sheets of variegated grain appearance.

Question 4

What is wood veneer?

Accepted Answer

The primary idea of wood veneer originates in ancient Egypt circa 3000 BC and continues into modern day woodworking. Egypt consists mostly of desert, wood was rare and highly valued; therefore, ancient Egyptians saw logs into thin boards to utilize the material well.
After Industrial Revolution in 18th century, veneers were produced by machines and become uniformly thin.

Nowadays, there're hundreds of different types of veneers available from various tree species, such as Cherry, Maple, Oak, Walnut, Ash,...etc. these are commonly made, as well as exotic and rare species such as different kind of burls veneers, Teak, Rosewood, Ebony, Ovangal.. and so on.

Aside from having better utilization of wood, there're several advantages for using wood veneers.
(1) Compared with solid wood, 0.6mm thickness veneer provide aesthetics like natural wood with less cost and more sustaniable.
(2) Applying wood veneer on particle boards or fiberboards (MDF or HDF) helps to increase its strength and durability; it can also avoid warp and fragmentation that are commonly happened to solid wood products.
(3) Compared to laminates, wood veneers are natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Because each tree is unique, every veneer product has a unique appearance, even the same species, the pattern and color can be various.
In order to get the most suitable wood veneer for your project or products, please contact us for more details.

Question 5

How is wood veneer made?

Accepted Answer

It's made by slicing or peeling logs into a thin layeer.
The best slicing thinkness is 0.6mm.
For detail cutting method informaiton, please refer to The Cuts Used to Create Veneer.

Question 6

How thick should veneer be?

Accepted Answer

The standard thickness is 0.6 mm.
It's the best equilibrium point among quality and cost.

Question 7

What’s the difference between veneer and laminate?

Accepted Answer

They are made by different material, veneer is made by real wood; whereas, laminate made by plastic with printed wood-like pattern on the surface.

Question 8

Is wood veneer expensive?

Accepted Answer

The cost is various which is depend on wood species, and the requiremnts on its size, grain, and colour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Veneer