Fig.B: Top: The sheet's come of the machine in the order that they are cut. Centre: Arrange them top side up. Bottom: Turn over 1 and 2

Fig.C The quartering pattern is created in the same way as the mirror pattern. It is essential to ensure that the edges are absolutely square.

Veneers are stored in the same sequence as they are cut from the log. Thus the back of one piece will be virtually identical to the face of the next and adjacently cut pieces can be laid next to each other to produce a very pleasing effect.

If four pieces are used, a quartering effect can be obtained as in (fig. C). But of course, used indiscriminately these special effects can ruin a piece.

You must inspect the grain of veneers when you buy them, and be wary of patterns that might produce strange optical effects (fig. G) below.

There are hundreds of species of timber available in veneer form and generally the rarer the timber, the more expensive the veneer.

Handling veneers

Veneers, being brittle, need care in handling and storing. To transport thin veneers, roll them up and fold thick paper over the ends to stop them splitting.

Store the sheets flat, between boards, in a dark, humid atmosphere, such as a cupboard.

Veneers with twisty or curly grains or those cut from burrs are particularly liable to buckle and split, and you should glue some gummed brown paper across the ends if they are to be stored for any length of time.

Fig.G:

Avoid using veneers with unusual grain patterns that give the appearance of distortion.