FAQ

5
What is Quarter Cut?
Quarter slicing (also known as Quarter Sawn, Quarter Cut or Quartered) is a cutting method that involves dividing the log into
quarters and slicing the quarter log on a radial direction approximately perpendicular to the growth rings to produce a straight
grain appearance with the flake from the wood rays typically exaggerated on the surface. It is commonly used with red and
white oaks because of the desired flake effect, but may be used on any species.
What is Plain Sliced?
Plain slicing (also known as Plain Sawn or Flat Cut) a log produces thin veneers that are no wider than the log and have a
pronounced repeating grain pattern. These pieces must be combined to make a plywood face by “matching” the pieces as
desired by the customer.
What is Matching?
Matching is a term typically used in reference to the relationship between one veneer strip or “component” and the adjacent
component in a face consisting of more than one component. The individual components are spliced together employing one of
a number of matching techniques. The most common is book matching, which requires reversing every other component as if
you were opening the pages of a book. The result is a mirror image at the splice line. Slip matching involves splicing each
veneer to the next without turning over any component. This allows the face to have the tight side of the veneer out on each
component, which helps avoid the “barber pole” effect of book matching. Plank matching is a deliberate random mismatch
designed to visually redistribute prominent natural characteristics in some species such as knotty pine. Random
matching requires no aesthetic appeal and is used to produce back veneers which won’t be seen.
The term “matching” may also be used in reference to the relationship of all components within a panel face. Running
matching means the outer components will not be the same width as the inner components due to jointing the log so as to
produce the greatest yield. Running match will be provided unless otherwise specified. Balance matching requires all
components to be the same width and Center matching requires that there be an even number of same width components.
Because of final panel trimming, the outer components of both balance and center matched faces will be slightly narrower than
the other components.
The term “matching” may also apply to the relationship of one panel to the next. Sequence matching means the panels are
produced from faces that were kept in order and numbered during the manufacturing process.
What is the “Barber Pole” effect?
“Barber pole” refers to the alternating dark and light appearance that is occasionally observed in book matched veneer as a
result of the different surface characteristics that exist between the tight side and loose side of a given veneer, especially
noticeable after finishing. Barber pole effect can be avoided by using matching techniques that utilize tight-side-out assembly.
What is Tight Side and Loose Side?
Conventional means of peeling or slicing a log results in the development of minute fractures known as lathe checks on the side
of the veneer adjacent to the knife and closer to the center of the log as the veneer was cut. The side of the veneer having the
lathe checks is the loose side, while the opposite side is the tight side. The loose side will tend to absorb more finishing material
than the tight side, which sometimes results in a dark/light appearance called the “barber pole” effect.