Specification
Hardwood Plywood Grading Guide 2015 columbiaforestproducts.com 1
From the tree to works of art: A guide to
understanding the hardwood plywood standard
An introducon from Ang Schramm
Trees are amazing. They provide
us with shelter, warm our hearths,
and shade us from the heat of the
summer sun. But they also give
us far more as they offer up their
inner distinctiveness to serve
us as one of the most functional
and attractive of all materials for
quality kitchen and bath cabine-
try, ne furniture, architectural
millwork, store xtures, and wall
furnishings, to name just a few.
Wood is a unique material for
decorative applications in that
by its very nature no two pieces
can ever be exactly alike. Its
appearance may be consistent
for a given species within a broad
and generalized range, but even
wood from the same tree can
vary in aesthetics and physical
properties. Growth conditions
such as geography and climate,
availability of water and nutri-
ents, adverse weather, genetics,
pestilence, injury, competition for
space, bacterial or viral infection,
the presence of extraneous com-
pounds contributing to the color
of heartwood, the lighter color
of sapwood, and the presence
of limbs and their relationship to
gure and knots, are but a few
of the factors contributing to this
phenomenon.
It is the purpose of this publica-
tion to help us give some order to
this assortment of characteristics
in a practical manner with an
overview of the industry standard
grading tables and other content,
including veneer production, core
options, and plywood manufac-
ture. With a sound understanding
of the inherent individuality of
trees, we have the rare opportu-
nity to make every project or job a
signature work of art!
Our goal is to provide this infor-
mation in a way that is easy to
understand and that will give us
a valuable tool to help enhance
communication and ensure that
all your expectations are met
when you choose Columbia
Forest Products’ PureBond
®
Hardwood Plywood.
Ang Schramm
Director of Technical
Services
Author of
A Complete Guide to Hard-
wood Plywood and Face
Veneer
Past Panel Products Director
HPVA
Past Chair HPVA Technical
Commiee
Director and Instructor
Columbia Forest Products
University
2 Veneer Cuts and
Matching
4 Alder
Plain Sliced
4 Anigre
Plain Sliced
5 Ash
Plain Sliced & Rotary
6 Birch Natural & Sap
Rotary
7 Cherry
Plain Sliced
8 Hickory
Plain Sliced
8 Mahogany / Khaya
Plain Sliced
9 Maple Natural
Plain Sliced & Rotary
10 Maple Sap
Plain Sliced & Rotary
11 Red Oak
Plain Sliced & Rotary
12 Sapele
Plain Sliced
12 Walnut
Plain Sliced
13 White Oak
Plain Sliced
14 Natural Characteris-
cs of Veneer
17 Core Types
18 Glossary
22 ANSI/HPVA
HP-1-2009
Standards with
Tables
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Special thanks to Veneer
Tech, Inc. for the sliced
veneers shown in this
book.
Important Disclaimer:
The photographs in this publication are presented as examples only, and are not intended to represent or predict in any
form the actual appearance of any grade or species. No range of color, grain, or other natural characteristics can be fully
depicted in any single photograph or collection of photographs, and no representation or guarantee of appearance of any
grade or species is made with respect to any such photograph contained herein.
For more photos of
veneer grades, or to
view our digital version,
visit our Grading Guide
online:
columbiaforestproducts.
com/library/reference-
guides/grading-guide
Grading
Guide
HARDWOOD PLYWOOD