Veneering and Vacuum Pressing Dictionary
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Ambrosia - This unique grain pattern typically found in maple, is caused by the Ambrosia beetle which bores small holes into the tree and introduces two different fungi. The first fungus (called Ambrosia fungus) lines the walls of the tunnel bored by the insect and becomes its food. The second fungus is what creates the wonderful colors in the grain.

Angel Step - A type of curly figure in which arrays of iridescence are not stacked evenly upon the next but instead are set off at an angle, creating a look of stairs or steps.

Balance Veneer - Typically a low-grade veneer used on the back of a veneered panel to "balance" the number of plies and prevent the panel from warping.

Barber Pole Effect - A undesirable visual condition in which light reflects differently from every other piece of veneer in a layup of several sheets side by side in a bookmatch pattern. This is often unavoidable in quartersawn and rift sawn veneers.

Bird's Eye - Dots of dense wood cells typically found in maple that create an overall appearance of circles or "eyes".

Bleed-Through - A sign of veneer glue that has migrated from the glue line to the visible surface of the veneer. It is avoidable and often repairable.

Bookmatch - The process or design found by laying two sheets of veneer side by side in which the figure or grain is mirrored from one sheet to the next.

Breather Mesh - Plastic fabric or netting that prevents pockets of uneven vacuum inside a vacuum bag.

Burl - A highly sought-after figure found in a wood veneer where circles of random cell growth appear.

Butt Match - The joining of two veneers at the end grain.

Cat's Paw - A pattern found in veneer created by clusters of burl figure.

Check Valve - A device that allows air or water to flow in one direction only.

Cold Creep - The undesirable movement of a veneer on its substrate caused by seasonal changes in humidity that permit the expansion and contraction of wood cells in the veneer.

Cold Press Glue - A veneer adhesive designed to cure without heat.

Contact Cement - A type of adhesive applied to a substrate so that a paperbacked or two-ply veneer can be bonded to it.

Crotch - A type of grain found in veneer that has been cut from a fork in a tree.

Cure Time - The amount of time that it takes for an adhesive to fully bond.

Curly - A type of figure found in wood veneer in which there are cross-grain ripples of shimmer.

Edge Banding - Wood veneer used to cover the edge of the substrate surface. Typically sold in 7/8" width and used on 3/4" thick substrates.

Fiddleback - The name that is given to wood veneers with an exceptionally significant degree of curly figure. A name given for the finest grain figure that historically was used on the backs of fine music instruments.

Flash Time - The amount of time needed to wait before setting the veneer onto the glued substrate.

Flat Cut - A traditional method of slicing a log into veneer that creates a "cathedral" grain often compared to the look of solid lumber.

Flitch - A bundle of veneers, typically 24 sheets, sold in the sequence in which they were sliced from the log.

Frame Press - A vacuum press component that has a rigid frame surrounding a flexible film.

Iron-On - A process of applying veneer, typically with a clothes iron and a specialized adhesive.

Joint - The line where two veneers are joined or butted together for the sake of covering a larger surface area.

MDF - A common substrate in veneering called medium-density fiberboard, which is typically made of finely ground paper, wood, and glue.

Melamine - A scuff and chemical-resistant plastic lamination applied to particle board. Melamine board is often used for shelving, but it can act as a platen board in a vacuum press.

Mottled - A type of figure found in some wood veneers in which there are angular rays of shimmer with sharp and abrupt edges of iridescence.

Open Time - The amount of time between when you apply the glue and when the material is placed in the press.

Paper-Backed Veneer - Real wood veneer applied to a backing of paper, which prevents the veneer from splitting and allows it to be bonded to a project with contact cement or pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Particle Board - A common substrate that is typically made of wood chips and glue, to which a veneer is applied.

Platen - A reference surface, typically made of melamine board, placed inside a vacuum press bag that prevents a project panel from warping while the vacuum is applied.

Plywood - A frequently used substrate made of many layers of thin wood to which a veneer is applied.

Pot Life - The length of time in which a glue (which requires mixing) can be used after its components are blended by the user.

PPR - Pre-catalyzed plastic resin used for bonding veneer to a porous surface when moisture and heat resistance is required.

PSA - The pressure-sensitive adhesive that is applied to the back of a paper-backed veneer. Think of it as "peel and stick". Greater pressure used on the surface creates a greater bond strength. In other words, the adhesion is sensitive to the amount of pressure used to make the bond.

Quad Match - A method of laying four veneers together where the common centers are adjacent. Think of it as a double-bookmatch.

Quartersawn - A method of slicing veneer from quartered sections of a log that creates a very straight grain.

Quilted - A type of figure found in some wood veneers that has a rolling iridescence similar to the look of a quilt.

Ribbon Stripe - A type of figure where light and dark colored columns form along the length of the grain.

Sand-Through - An undesirable effect caused by excessive sanding a veneer surface in which the glue line is exposed and thus ruins the panel.

Scraper - In veneering, this is a tool used to apply pressure to a veneer that is being adhered with contact cement or pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Set Time - The amount of time the veneered panel will need to be pressed or clamped while the adhesive makes a good bond.

Softener - A liquid applied to veneer that temporarily reduces brittleness.

Spalting - A pattern of dark lines found in veneer that is often caused by fungus and partial rotting.

Substrate - The surface underlying a veneer. Typically plywood, MDF, or particle board.

Sunburst - The pattern created by laying up veneers on a project surface where each sheet of the layup is connected by a center point.

Tear Out - The area where wood slivers have broken off the veneer face during the milling or slicing process. This can also refer to chipping that happens at the edge of the veneer when trimming the edge of the panel.

Two-Ply Veneer - A veneer (typically 4' x 8') that has a second layer of lesser grade veneer applied to the back for the purpose of making a stronger product. Typically applied to a substrate with contact cement.

Vacuum Press - A veneering tool that removes the air inside a large bag, thereby creating pressure that keeps the veneer flat while the adhesive sets up.

Vaneer - This is how "veneer" is spelled by folks who have never used veneer.

Veneer - Wood that has been cut to a thickness of approximately 1/42".

Veneer Saw - A hand tool used to cut veneer where a seam will be made between two pieces.

Veneer Tape - Kraft paper with a water-activated adhesive backing used to temporarily hold two pieces of veneer together at a splice/joint line.

Venturi - A device that uses compressed air to create vacuum.