Various core materials are available including veneer core, lumber core, particleboard core and fiberboard core. Cutting The two principal methods of cutting veneer are rotary cutting on a veneer lathe and sliding on a veneer slicer. The method selected will depend on the species, characteristics of the logs and grain figure desired. The log is centrally mounted on a lathe and turned against the knife which peels the veneers in long sheets, similar to unwinding a roll of paper. A wide variegated grain pattern is the result.
Grain resembles that of sawn lumber.
A half-log is placed off center on a lathe producing a veneer characteristic of both rotary and plain sliced and is cut across the growth rings. A quarter log is placed on a slicer producing an accentuated vertical grain. The term matching has several meanings. It may refer to the matching of veneer strips within an individual panel, as well as a continuing match of the veneer from panel to panel to achieve an overall effect. This patterns is usually specified when even color is desired and is normally employed on straighter grained veneers.