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GlossaryBirch
Veneer Specification
Description
Yellow Birch can exhibit a far ranging display of colors, grain patterns, figures and related natural characteristics. Select Yellow Birch is typically sourced from sapwood and will exhibit a creamy, light yellow to pale grey color. Natural Yellow Birch will contain both sapwood and light to medium brown colored heartwood with a greater allowance of natural characteristics. The transition from sapwood to heartwood is visually distinct. Yellow Birch is a high density hardwood with a closed grain and smooth surface texture. When plain sawn/sliced Yellow Birch results in a mostly straight to cathedral grain patterns which are highly diffused, slightly darker than the overall flitch color. Yellow Birch is typically selected and stained to replicate the look of more expensive wood species.
Woodport Grade
Select. Uniformity Density = 2.0/Square Foot.
Unless noted otherwise, all Yellow Birch veneer shall be sapwood selected for color uniformity and minimal occurrence of natural characteristics. Veneer flitch may range from creamy white to pale grey color. Veneer shall not contain heartwood or any grey or reddish brown stains. Components manufactured with multiple veneer flitches must be of the same color. Grain color shall be diffused and slightly darker than the overall veneer flitch. Solid grain lines of medium to dark brown, red or black colors are not acceptable. Grain shall be relatively straight and vertically orientated. Rotary grain shapes and patterns are allowed but must not detract from the overall uniformity of the finished component. No open knots, voids, splits or areas of decay. Figuring and natural characteristics significantly detracts from the appearance and uniformity desired in this grade. Natural characteristics and figures shall appear random, not patterned, across the surface of the finished component. Slight Cross Bar figuring allowed. No Curly or Spalted surface figuring allowed.
Not Allowed
- Bark Pockets
- Cracks/Splits/Checks
- Doze / Dry Rot
- Fillings
- Gum/Resin Spots
- Honeycomb
- Knot holes (voids)
- Open Defects (voids)
- Ruptured Grain
- Ruptured Shake
- Worm Holes (voids)
- Worm Tracks (voids)
- Black Color
- Dark Brown Color
- Heavy Knife Marks
- Heavy Machining Marks
- Spalted (figuring)
- Curly (figuring)
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Allowed
Knife / Machining Marks:
Shallow surface imperfections in veneer flitch which may be removed through light surface sanding are allowable.
Blended:
Small conspicuous burls, circular displacements and grain swirls are allowable up to a maximum of 5/8" diameter. Must be sound/tight, (no voids). All figures to blend with the natural veneer flitch color and be no darker than the grain color. Figures which are very dark brown or black in color are not acceptable. No figure to produce a shimmered veneer surface texture. Figuring not highly desired in this grade. Maximum number per finished component size as follows:
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 12" |
| 1 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 13" - 45" |
| 2 | Widths 25" and up | Lengths 46" and up |
Cross Bar:
Conspicuous irregular cross grain pattern traversing across the finished veneer component is not acceptable. Slight, indistinguishable cross bar pattern which blends with the natural color of the veneer is allowable to a maximum of 1/8" in height and 3" in length. Must not significantly detract from overall appearance or uniformity of the finished component. Must appear random not patterned. Not highly desired in this grade. Maximum number per finished component size as follows:
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 12" |
| 1 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 13" - 45" |
| 2 | Widths 25" and up | Lengths 46" and up |
Knots:
All knots must be sound/tight and closed, (no voids). Knots must blend with the natural veneer and be no darker than the grain color. Dark brown or black colors are not acceptable. Knots significantly detract from the appearance and uniformity desired in this grade. Minimal number of knots desired. Must not be tightly grouped or patterned. Maximum allowable per grouping as stated.
Knots, Pin:
Maximum of 1/8" diameter. Must blend with the veneer color. No dark brown or black centers.
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Widths up to 7" | Lengths up to 12" |
| 2 | Widths 8" - 13" | Lengths 13" - 45" |
| 3 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 46" - 81" |
| 4 | Widths 25" and Up | Lengths 82" and Up |
Knots, Sounds/Tight:
Maximum of 1/4" diameter. Must blend with the veneer color. No dark brown or black centers.
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 24" |
| 1 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 25" - 81" |
| 2 | Widths 25" and Up | Lengths 81" and Up |
Knots, Cluster
Maximum of 5/8" diameter across the overall grouping. Clusters with up to (3) knots are acceptable. No dark brown or black centers. Must not be tightly grouped or patterned.
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 24" |
| 1 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 25" - 81" |
| 2 | Widths 25" and Up | Lengths 81" and Up |
Mineral Stains/Streaks
Can appear as either diffused or solid colored line. Typically oriented with the grain of the veneer. Significantly detracts from the appearance and uniformity desired in this grade. Minimal number of mineral stains/streaks desired. Must not be tightly grouped or patterned. Maximum allowable per grouping as stated.
Mineral Stain:
Diffused, (non-solid), medium grey to medium brown color. No dark brown or black colored stains. Allowable to a maximum of 1/4" in width and 2" in length.
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 12" |
| 1 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 13" - 45" |
| 2 | Widths 25" and up | Lengths 46" and up |
Mineral Streak:
Solid line of dark brown or black color. Allowable up to maximum 1/32" width, (heavy pencil line), and 3/4" in total length. May be contained within a diffused mineral stain. Multiple number of small stains allowed. Combined total length of smaller stains may not exceed the stated length allowable.
| Length Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 1" Maximum | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 12" |
| 2" Maximum | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 13" - 45" |
| 3" Maximum | Widths 25" and up | Lengths 46" and |
Sugar Stains/Streaks
Naturally occurring in species. Can appear as either diffused or solid colored line. Must be oriented with grain of veneer. Cross grain stains and streaks are not acceptable. Various widths and lengths. Select veneer to minimize occurrence. Must not be tightly grouped orpatterned. Must not detract from the appearance or uniformity desired in this grade. Maximum allowable per grouping as stated.
Sugar Stain:
Diffused, (non-solid), medium grey to medium brown color. No dark brown or black colored stains. Allowable to a maximum of 1/4" in width and 2" in length.
| Number Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Widths up to 13" | Lengths up to 12" |
| 1 | Widths 14" - 24" | Lengths 13" - 45" |
| 2 | Widths 25" and up | Lengths 46" and up |
Sugar Streak:
Naturally occurring in species. Can appear as either diffused or solid colored line. Must be oriented with grain of veneer. Cross grain stains and streaks are not acceptable. Various widths and lengths. Select veneer to minimize occurrence. Must not be tightly grouped or patterned. Must not detract from the appearance or uniformity desired in this grade. Maximum allowable per grouping as stated.
| Length Allowable | Panels | Stiles & Rails |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | All Widths | All Lengths |
Veneer Splicing
Veneer shall be spliced to provide a pleasing to the eye appearance. Veneer shall be composed of Heartwood flitches selected to best match color and grain pattern. Veneer with Benin vertical figuring shall be book matched spliced. All veneer shall be spliced so as not to create a unnatural or stark contrast of color, grain or figure. Veneer grain shall be oriented vertically with length of component. Flitches shall not be trimmed or spliced through a figure, knot or stain greater than 1/16" in width.
Veneer Flitch Sizing
Minimum Flitch Width Allowed: 5"
Widths up to 7": No splice allowed
Widths 8" - 13": One splice allowed, centered to overall sheet width. Trim final veneer sheet from both sides to provide flitches of nearly equal width, (+/- 1/4"), and balanced finished appearance.
Widths 14" and Up: Minimum 5" flitch width. Not to exceed 5 total flitches per finished veneer sheet. Individual veneer flitches shall be nearly equal in width, (+/- 1/4"), to provide a balanced appearance.
Veneer Glue Line
Glue line shall be continuous, structurally sound with no separation or voids between flitches. Glue line must not be visible after finish sanding. Minimize excess adhesive on surfaces of veneer flitch and finished component.
| Veneer Specifications: | Panel | Stiles & Rails | Flat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade (HPVA): | Veneer Grade A/B | Veneer Grade A/B | Veneer Grade B |
| Thickness: | 1/42" or (0.0238") | 1/24" or (0.0417) | 1/42" of (0.0238") |
| Thickness Tolerance: | +/- (.005") | +/- (.005") | +/- (.007") |
| Moisture Content: | 5 - 10% | 5 - 10% | 5 - 10% |
| Spliced Width Tolerance: | +/- (1/16") | +/- (1/16") | +/- (1/16") |
| Length Tolerance: | +/- (1/16") | +/- (1/16") | +/- (1/16") |
| Cutting Method: | Plain Sliced | Plain Sliced | Plain Sliced |