Fiddleback, Figured, Tiger, Curly, and Quilted Maple - Same or Different?

It's a common misconception: customers will call me and order Curly Maple expecting Tiger Maple. Or Fiddleback Maple expecting Quilted Maple. Are they all the same, or all different? Actually it's a bit more complicated, so I will separate them into three groups for clarity. Each of these groups are one type of wood veneer:

1) Curly Maple Veneer (pictured to the left) is really Flat Cut Figured Maple. Like the name implies, the original grain curls around or is flat-sawn, and the figure goes in straight diagonal lines across the curls. When people ask for Figured Maple, they are often speaking of Curly Maple Veneer. However, all of the above Maples are actually Figured, so if you ask for Figured Maple, we will ask you to be more specific.

2). Tiger Maple Veneer and Fiddleback Maple Veneer are the same species (pictured to the right) - they are Quartered Figured Maple. This type of veneer has tightly-packed figure or flitch bands that go across the leaf, making a crossed grain pattern, which actually does resemble the stripes of a tiger. Many designers specifically ask for this type of veneer to be slip-matched, because if it is not slip matched, there will be a light-dark-light-dark pattern (or barber poling) every several inches going vertically down the sheet.

3) Finally, Quilted Maple Veneer (pictured left) can be flat or rotary cut, but looks very different from the Curly or Tiger groups. It has a very rounded, swirly pattern that almost approaches the look of a burl, without actually getting there. Like Fiddleback, (as the name implies), Quilted is also often used on musical instruments, for example guitars and drums.

Have you used any of these figured or quilted maple veneers? How did they work out for you? Add your comments or questions in the comment section and someone from Oakwood and/or another reader will post a reply.

Douglas Fir, Prima Vera, and Chestnut Veneer -

About a month or so ago, we had a news story about Douglas Fir Veneer (pictured to your left) and Prima Vera Veneer and how these two species are some of the hottest available today. Apparently, some of you must have seen that article, because since then sales of the two veneers have grown even further.

The trend seems to center on light veneer shades, as builders and designers are trying to brighten up rooms or projects. Douglas Fir is a great domestic choice for this purpose, and Prima Vera Veneer (pictured to the right) is a great exotic choice.

Also, with Christmas around the corner, and "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," its a good time to talk about a veneer staple, Chestnut Veneer (which is pictured to the left). Usually available in lumber as old barnwood, chestnut is increasingly available as a veneer. While Wormy Chestnut is still relatively rare as veneer, we do stock it, as well as the readily available and less expensive European Chestnut. The European variety looks like Heart Hickory and also goes by the name of Spanish Chestnut or Sweet Chestnut.

For questions about any of these veneers, be sure to call me (Peter), or Geoff or Jay at 800-426-6018, or visit the main website at www.oakwoodveneer.com - We are always more than happy to help.


Check Out Our Other Posts: Rotary Maple Veneer, Degame Veneer, Pomele Bubinga Veneer, Satinwood Veneer, Madrone Burl Veneer

Make Sure We Understand Your Wood Veneer Project So You Get the Best Results

Lately, I've had a number of customers order a single sheet of wood veneer from us, with the intention of ordering several sheets of the same species at a later time. However, because they didn't let us know that this was their intention, they ended up getting veneer from a different log that might have looked very different from the original piece.

Therefore, the key here is to always tell us your intentions. If you will need 20 sheets of Lacewood Veneer (which is pictured to the left) to go on a hotel lobby wall, than let us know if you only order one to start. Lacewood is a beautiful hardwood veneer, but sometimes it is hard to match the sheets. However if we know beforehand, we will work to make sure everything matches and works seamlessly for you.

Certain wood veneers are easier to match than others. For example, Butternut Veneer, Lacewood Veneer, and Myrtle Burl Veneer (pictured to the right) are more difficult to match than say, Makore Veneer or Red Oak Veneer. However, even if ordering an easy-match veneer, just let us know your intentions because you never know which ways we can help you.

Check out our other posts: Premium Wood Veneer, Carpathian Elm Burl Veneer, Carolina Southern Yellow Pine, Plum Pudding Mahogany Veneer, French Walnut Veneer

Announcing the Oakwood Veneer 2009 Wood Veneer Design Contest

I've been seeing more and more pictures lately of our customers' projects, and I must say, I've been extremely impressed. We send people sheets of veneer, and out comes a design masterpiece from the other end.

So we've decided at Oakwood to highlight some of these projects with a design contest (see the press release here). Entering is easy: Just email me your pictures - peter@oakwoodveneer.com - with your name and your company and website. No email? Send the picture(s) to our address - 1830 Stephenson Hwy Suite A, Troy, MI 48083.

We'll pick one grand prize winner, who will get $100 in free veneer, a feature on our website, and featured in an Oakwood Veneer press release. Everyone who sends at least one picture will receive $10 off a purchase of $50 or more veneer or edgebanding. All of the top entries will also secure a place on our website.

So build that mappa burl curio cabinet or walnut burl showcase, bamboo veneer dining room table, or bamboo veneer hotel lobby walls (bamboo veneer is pictured to the left). Send between one and five pictures. Win the Oakwood Veneer 2009 Wood Veneer Design Contest and see your name up in lights (or up on webpages at least).

Call me for any questions - 800-426-6018.

Check Out Our Other Posts: Veneer Matching, Veneer Vs Solid Lumber, Fiddleback Maple Veneer, Douglas Fir Veneer, Butternut Veneer

When should I Choose Premium or Regular Grade Wood Veneer?

Many people have been asking me about the difference between regular and premium grade veneer. Many of our bigger selling veneers, such as walnut veneer, teak veneer, and bubinga veneer, come in both varieties. There are reasons for purchasing either way, however I can always find out what you need by asking three questions:

1) Are you staining this and if so, how light or dark?

2) What project are you making?

3) Where on the project is the veneer going?

You see, if you need sequenced, or similar, sheets of wood veneer, the premium usually fits the bill, as it often has wider leafs or flitches, which are components that make the veneer sheet. This allows for more veneer sheets to be made that look the same, or are sequenced.

If you are installing walls in a hotel lobby, for example with pommele veneer, you should use premium grade veneer. If you are making the inside of cabinetry with peel and stick veneer for example, and are staining it dark, you don't need premium. Regular grade, or even B grade would probably be acceptable.

For furniture makers, we have three terms "high show, low show, and no show." High show is the front of the furniture. Low show could be the sides. No show is the undersides or shelving. Therefore, it makes sense that high show should receive premium and low or no show can likely be fine with regular.

Check Out Our Other Posts: Olive Ash Burl Veneer, Veneer Prices, Veneer Plywood, Quarter-sawn Cherry Veneer, Oakwood Value

The Four Most Popular Burl Veneers

When people ask me about burl veneer, they often want to know which species is most popular. We have four big selling species of burl Carpathian Elm Burl, Mappa Burl, Maple Burl, and Walnut Burl. Burls in general are very rare wood veneers.

Carpathian Elm Burl Veneer (pictured to your left in Italian form) is from Europe. It has been overharvested, making it more expensive and less available, although we always have it in stock at Oakwood. Because the cost is so high, some of our customers have been switching to Mappa Burl, which can simulate Elm Burl when stained properly.

Mappa burl (pictured right) is also from Europe and is sometimes called Poplar burl or Poplar bur (not burl) there. Mappa Burl Veneer is a uniform burl with many variations of colors, generally light, and the tone of maple or poplar. There are brown and black burls throughout the sheet.

Maple Burl Veneer is not the maple that we usually think of. It is Western Maple Burl usually cut from the same tree as quilted maple. Maple Burl Veneer looks like it would be cherry burl, but it doesn't darken like cherry veneer does. Maple Burl Veneer often has very heavy burl patterns.

Walnut Burl Veneer (in the image to the right) has become much more popular lately. It is obviously a darker type of wood, however some customers don't realize that it is a few shades darker than regular walnut veneer. Walnut burl veneer has many different appearances. There is a more swirly walnut veneer which is less expensive, a medium burly which is more expensive, and intense burl is the premium grade and is the most expensive. Premium intense walnut burl is also called jewelry box grade or instrument grade (for guitars or drums, etc.)

Of all the burl veneers, which is your favorite? What type of projects have you made with burl? Post a comment and someone will reply to it, either an Oakwood representative or another reader.

Brand New Oakwood Veneer Blogspace

Welcome to the new Oakwood Veneer blog. Our aim is to keep you up to date on some of the newest happenings at Oakwood Veneer. The first thing to mention is a special that is running on plastiback balanced backer sheets. Until Thanksgiving, you can buy 8 and get 2 free. This is a great price on sheets that are already at a low cost every day at $0.49 per square foot for the 4"X8" size.

Next, we just got a large shipment of walnut burl. Walnut burl Veneer is a great choice in this economy, because, while it is expensive per square foot, only a very small amount is needed to accent a piece and make it look like a million bucks.

Last, we've been getting a lot of calls for African Mahogany Veneer and Honduras Mahogany Veneer lately, and we couldn't tell you why, but mahogany apparently is one of the hot woods people are after lately.

Remember to keep Oakwood on your list for all exotic and burl veneers as well as any type of domestic hardwood veneer and all wood veneer supplies including edgebanding. You can also call us for installation and selection help anytime at 800-426-6018.

Check Out Our Other Posts: Quartered Yellow Pine Veneer, Silky Mahogany Veneer, Peruvian Walnut Veneer, Rotary Birch Veneer, Lemonwood Veneer