What is Rotary Cut Oak Veneer?
As its name suggests, Rotary Cut veneer is produced by shaving a full and continuous sheet of the log while it is rotating. It is the only way to achieve complete face veneers. In terms of patterns, the grain is broad and will not appear sliced.
Oak is scarcely demanded as rotary cut veneer but it's needed somehow. The big wild grain pattern is available from the peeling machine with the size of 4'x8', which is not possible by slicing. But due to the harsh fibers of Oak, we have to peel the veneers above 0.35 mm so that they would not be sanded through. This product is specially applied in plywood, furniture and door production.
Rotary Cut One Piece Red Oak Wood Veneer has beautiful swirls in the grain. The rotary slicing allows for a seamless sheet of veneer. Red Oak can vary in density depending on where it grows. The color can run from brightly toned pink to a wheat color. The flake in the quartersawn is usually much smaller.
Types of Veneer Cuts
Rotary Cut Veneers
A whole log is mounted in the center of the lathe and turned against a sharp blade, much like unwinding a roll of paper. It is the most economical method of cutting. Rotary cut veneer can be wide enough to produce a full-sheet, or single piece faces.
Quarter Sliced Veneers
A quarter log is mounted on the flitch table so that the growth rings are perpendicular to the cutting blade, producing a series of stripes. These stripes can be straight in some woods and varies in others.
Flat Cut or Plain Sliced Veneers
A half log is mounted with the heart side flat against the flitch table of the slicer. The cut is then made with the blade parallel to the length of the log producing the appearance of a "cathedral effect".
Half Round Sliced Veneers
A half, third or quarter of a log is attached to a plate on a lathe and turned. Half-round slicing is used to accentuate the different grain in certain woods. However, it can also be used to achieve a flat/ plain sliced veneer appearance.
Rift Cut Veneers
A quarter of the log is fixed to a plate on a turning stay log. As the flitch is rotated, the blade and angle can be varied so that the wood is cut exactly to produce the very straight rift grain. Rift slicing uses a "stay log lathe," which cuts with a rotary action. Rift slicing also achieves a straight grain pattern, but avoids the appearance of "flake" that occurs in some species when quarter sliced. Most often, this method is used with oak and it is generally the straightest and free from cathedrals and variations in grain.
Applications of Rotary Cut Oak Veneer
Kitchen Cabinetry
One of the most popular kitchen door styles of today is the slab or plain front cabinet. This contemporary style requires a clean, sleek veneer that has a tight color range and little wood grain to detract from the lines of the room. Rotary cut maple veneer from Columbia has several veneer face matching options, which translates into a cohesive look from one cabinet door to the next across the entire kitchen.
The size of the veneers able to be produced from rotary cuts also means that oversized drawer fronts and pantry doors can also have the same clean lines. For contemporary spaces that want a hardwood cabinet door, rotary cut maple can make aesthetic sense.
Fabricators in particular appreciate the tight grain of maple which makes the species ideal for use in cabinet interiors, shelving, where durability and the visual appeal of real wood are desired.
Paneling
Appliance panels have long been a popular addition to many high-end homes, and now have begun to appear in contemporary kitchens of all types as well. Appliance panels are necessarily much larger than typical cabinet doors or drawers. In the slab style that's become increasingly popular of late, a single panel veneer that can accommodate the length and width of larger appliances is useful.
Rotary cut white maple veneers offer a consistent, tight color range which takes stains, dyes and tints exceptionally well with a subtle wood grain which adds real authenticity to today's contemporary kitchen. The same wood veneers can be used throughout the space as paneling, to cover not only appliances, but also end panels and islands to give contemporary kitchens the clean, sleek lines they need.
Custom Closet Doors & Shelving
As more homeowners begin looking at open floor plans and multi-functional rooms for their homes, they are also beginning to look at storage differently than before. For this reason, custom closets are becoming the norm, rather than the exception in many homes.
Custom closets also require custom closet doors, with the traditional bi-fold doors quickly being replaced by sleeker, multi-panel sliding doors that can accommodate the closet's many uses. Rotary cut veneers are large enough to accommodate any size of sliding panel or door. At the same time, their ability to be easily matched and bookended means that you can create many different styles to complement several architectural styles as well including matching shelving inside for storage.
If the doors are to be painted, whole piece face rotary veneer finishes better with no visible splice lines which, regardless of sanding effort, can be seen in even opaque finishes as a line. Whole piece veneer faces are much easier to paint consistently than multiple component faces.
Furniture & Built Ins
Like many quality veneers, rotary maple is perfect for creating living room furniture and built ins as well. The consistent thickness on slip matched and plank matched appearance options mean that it's possible to use the material in ways that make crafting easier, with less time spent on matching, grading, and joining. This also helps the woodworker prevent the barber pole effect from occurring.
What Are The Main Differences Between Veneer and Solid Oak?
Veneer vs. Solid Oak
Solid oak refers to the pure wood that comes from the oak tree. For centuries, oak has been used to create all sorts of furniture because of its good quality, great finish, and durability.
However, in recent times, veneer oak is being increasingly used in the furniture industry. Veneer oak refers to a decorative, thin wood piece, usually 5 millimetres in density, that is often used as an alternative to solid oak.
Veneer has become popular very quickly because it often gives a similar finish as solid oak but at a much lower cost. One quick at way to know if the furntirue is veneer os solid oak it to quickly is to knock or tap the furniture like a watermelon. Solid oak will not echo and produces a short thud when it's knocked but veneer and MDF particle boards echoes and you can hear that it is hollow after you knock on it.
Which is Better?
Solid Oak
- Both solid oak and veneer oak are appropriate for their own unique situations. Typically, doors are made of solid oak. This is for a number of reasons.
- There is absolutely no replacement for the type of finish you can get from solid oak. Pure wood is, after all, always going to be superior to a synthetic alternative.
- Solid oak also looks aesthetically pleasing and elegant. So if you are going for a sophisticated look for your house, always opt for solid oak.
- Solid oak is also far easy to repair as compared to veneer. This is why if you are thinking of making a wooden door, it's probably best to go for solid oak. Any scratches can easily be repaired.
- Repairing scratches isn't all that simple in furniture made from veneer.
Veneer
- Veneer is considerably less expensive and provides a decent finish. So if you're working with a low budget, there is no reason not to opt for a veneer door.
- Veneer can also be far more detailed than wood. You can customize veneer to make designs of your liking, far more than you can with solid wood.