Exotic Veneer

Are you a craftsperson who wishes you could work with rarer woods such as cocobolo or ebony without fear of expenses? Are you concerned about the issue of over harvesting? If this sounds like you, then perhaps it’s time to consider adding an exotic veneer to your decorative options.

Using Exotic veneer is where the woodworker glues thin planks of wood to a cheaper surface, such as particleboard or plywood. While this may sound like a low quality, cheap method of woodworking, it’s actually very effective and lasts for quite some time, whether you’re gluing small squares to a jewelry box lid or installing new wooden floors.

This does more than just save you money. It allows you the experience of adding truly exotic woods to your forte without running the risk of wasting the wood. It’s also perfect for less experienced woodworkers and craftspeople who may feel insecure about cutting into solid rosewood, bloodwood, purpleheart, jatoba, padauk, or any number of other exotic woods.

However, this doesn’t mean that you are somehow limiting yourself by using exotic veneer. When it comes to determining patterns, sizes, and shapes, the possibilities are endless. You can create a truly unique coffee table by gluing exotic wood veneers in a stripe pattern, in diamond patterns, in tiled patterns, or even asymmetrical designs for a more unpredictable look.

Best of all, installing your exotic veneer is incredibly fast and easy. You have a variety of different formats to choose from, including raw veneer, paperbacked veneer, and phenolic veneer. While raw exotic veneer gives you the advantage of getting to choose which side of the plank faces upward, backed veneers also make for easier installation, especially in larger patches.

Once your exotic veneer is fitted, caring for your surfaces is not unlike performing maintenance on solid wood. Clean with mild, non-acidic cleaners and apply protective finishes when needed. Sand gently to remove scratches. Research your species of exotic woods before applying any stains, as some woods are more absorbent than others. As always, avoid putting hot or damp objects on your exotic veneer, as these will leave marks.

Finally, it’s important to remember that humidity and heat can cause any wood to expand, shrink, or warp. To prevent this from happening to your surfaces, try to keep the temperature and humidity level regular throughout the year.

Once you’ve began using an exotic veneer in your woodworking, you may wonder how you ever got along without them. With their sheer range of colors, patterns, and sizes, this decorating technique is a wonderful way to add a bit of class to your wood surfaces.