Cutting And Joining Commercial Veneers

Veneering is the process of glueing a thin layer of timber to a thicker backing (substrate). Veneers are sold as a bundle of consecutive leaves where the width is dependent on the log (or flitch) from which they were sliced, but generally no wider than 300mm. In order to make up a larger surface, the veneers must be joined by either a ‘slip’ match (sliding one leaf sideways) or ‘book’ match (turning one leaf over as in turning the page of a book).

Slip Match

Consecutive leaves of veneer are laid side by side and joined. Both sides of the joint are planed together to ensure a perfect fit.

Step 1

On leaves 1 & 2, mark the join.

Step 2

Turn leaf 2 clockwise through 180° and slide underneath leaf 1.

Step 3

Prepare the veneer shooting board and clamp it to the bench. The veneer shoot is simply two long pieces of melamine faced chipboard screwed together.

Step 4

Place leaves 1 & 2 onto the veneer shoot with the joint line overhanging slightly (approx 2mm)

Step 5

Clamp a board on top of the veneers.

Step 6

Use a long plane to remove several shavings from the pair of veneers.

Step 7

Remove the pair of veneers from the shooting board, open them out to see the joint. Use strips of gummed veneer tape to pull the two jointed edges together.

Step 8

Completed slip matched veneer pair.

Book Match

One leaf is turned over (as in turning the pages of a book) through 180°. The grain on the reverse side now matches the other leaf in the pair.

Step 1

Leaves 3 & 4 side by side (slip match configuration). Leaf 4 is turned over through 180° and the joint is marked.

Step 2

Important - leaf 4 is turned a second time through 180° and slides underneath leaf 3.

Step 3

Repeat steps 4 - 7 above

Step 4

Completed book match veneer pair.

Completed sip and book match veneer pairs; note the grain in the book match pair.