Sawn-Cut Veneer

There are basically 3 different ways to cut wood veneers.  At Real Wood Floors we use the sawn-cut method exclusively.  The sawn-cut technique produces the finest veneer for flooring applications both in the look of the veneer and the stability and durability of the final product. This method will show the full scope of the natural characterisics of the lumber and will give you a thick enough wear layer to refinish multiple times giving the floor a lifetime of use. The 3 techniques are outlined here.

Sawn-Cut Veneer

Technique
Lumber is sawn straight through the log or lumber in the same fashion as normal solid wood flooring. The only difference is the thickness of the cut.

Appearance
Sawn-cut veneer will have the same natural variation in both color and characteristics that a traditional solid wood floor has.

Result
Sawn-Cut Veneer yields a naturally beautiful product that can be cut thick enough to give the floor a lifetime of use while being more dimensionally stable than a traditional solid wood floor.

Sliced Veneer

Technique
Logs are cut down into squares that are called a flitch. These flitch's are then soaked to soften the fibers of the wood. The flitch is drawn across a angled blade and the veneer is literally shaved off. This process is reapeated until the whole flitch is turned into veneer.

Appearance
Similar appearance to sawn-cut veneers.

Result
Though the veneers maintain the natural variation of sawn wood, it is very difficult to make thick veneers using this technique.

Rotary Peeled Veneer

Technique
Logs are positioned on a large lathe and spun against a sharp blade "peeling" the veneers off the log as you would peel an apple. The veneers vary in thickness but are generally very thin as the goal of this technique is efficiency. This technique also is prone to lathe checks which are small stress points in the veneer that can crack in dry humidity and cause the surface finish of the flooring to fracture.

Appearance
Rotary peeled veneers produce a grain pattern that looks entirely different than a traditional wood floor. The knife is peeling off the veneer in a circular direction so the end product does not have a the natural variation and beauty of sawn-cut veneer. Rotary peeled veneer will have patterns in the floor that can often look very busy with many unnatural looking stripes or zig zag grain patterns.

Result
Though an efficient way to saw veneer, the product is neither naturally beautiful or thick enough to withstand a lifetime of wear and tear.