Veneer
A thin slice of wood, typically 1/42 to 1/8 inch thick, glued onto a substrate such as plywood, MDF, or particleboard to create the appearance of solid wood.
In-Depth Explanation
Veneer is produced by either rotary peeling a log on a lathe or slicing it with a large blade, yielding thin sheets that showcase the wood figure and grain. Rotary-cut veneer is used primarily for plywood manufacturing, while sliced veneer is used for decorative panels, furniture, and cabinetry. Book-matching, where consecutive slices are opened like book pages, creates symmetrical grain patterns prized in high-end millwork. Veneer technology makes exotic and highly figured woods accessible for large surfaces that would be prohibitively expensive in solid form. Modern adhesives produce veneer-faced panels that are dimensionally stable and less prone to seasonal movement than solid wood.
Usage Example
The cabinet maker applied book-matched walnut veneer to the MDF doors, giving them the look of solid walnut at a fraction of the cost.