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Poplar

Veneer Specification

Description

Also known as Tulip Poplar. A moderately soft hardwood with straight grain and fine texture. Sapwood is creamy white color and may be streaked with faint hues of light grey and brown. Heartwood is pale yellowish brown to olive green in color. Transition from heartwood to sapwood is abrupt. Faint, diffused growth rings may range in color from dull orange tan to light grey to a light olive color. When plain sliced, Yellow Poplar will exhibit mostly straight grain. Rotary slicing will result in more irregular grain widths and patterns. Natural characteristics such as burls, figures, knots, mineral stains/streaks are limited in size and occurrence. The fine, smooth surface texture lends itself to both paint and stain finishes. Yellow Poplar will darken with exposure to light.

Woodport Grade

Standard. Uniformity Density = 3.0/Square Foot.

Flitches may contain both sapwood and heartwood. Wide range of naturally occurring flitch colors are allowed. May contain light grey and brown hues and stains. Both plain and rotary grain patterns are allowed. Grain colors shall be diffused. No solid purple or blue colors. Burls, figures and knots shall blend with veneer flitch color. Dark green, dark brown and black centers/colors are allowed, as specified. Must be sound/tight and closed, (no voids). Cross grain figuring, mineral stains and mineral streaks are not desired characteristics and shall be minimized. Mineral stains shall be diffused, not solid in color. Dark green, dark brown and black colored mineral stains/streaks are allowed, as specified. Minimal number of natural characteristics desired. All natural characteristics shall appear random, not patterned, across the surface of the finished component. Natural characteristics must not detract from an overall, pleasing to the eye finished component appearance.

Not Allowed

  • Bark Pockets
  • Cracks/Checks
  • Decay/Dry Rot
  • Honeycomb
  • Knot holes (voids)
  • Open Defects (voids)
  • Ruptured Grain
  • Ruptured Shake
  • Worm Holes (voids)
  • Worm Tracks
  • Purple Color
  • Blue Color
  • Heavy Knife Marks
  • Heavy Machining Marks

Allowed

Knife / Machining Marks:

Shallow surface imperfections in veneer flitch which may be removed through light surface sanding are allowable.

Cross Bar

Conspicuous irregular cross grain pattern allowable to a maximum of 1/2" height and 3" in length. Grain pattern not resulting from visible burl or knot. Must blend with the natural veneer flitch color. Cross bars shall be patterned to appear random and natural so as not to detract from final component appearance. Not highly desirable in this species. Maximum number per finished component size as follows:

Number Allowable Panels Stiles & Rails
1 Widths up to 7" Lengths up to 24"
2 Widths 8" - 13" Lengths 25" - 45"
3 Widths 14" - 24" Lengths 46" - 81"
4 Widths 25" and up Lengths 82" and up

Blended:

Small conspicuous burls, circular displacements and grain swirls are allowable up to a maximum of 1" diameter. Must be sound/tight, (no voids). All figures to blend with the natural veneer flitch color. Figures which are very dark brown or black in color are not acceptable. No figure to produce a shimmered veneer surface texture. Minimal number of figures desired. Maximum number per finished component size as follows:

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:

All knots must be sound/tight and closed, (no voids). Prefer knots to blend with the natural veneer flitch color. Dark brown and black colors as specified. Must not appear patterned on finished veneer component. Minimal number of knots desired. Maximum allowable per grouping as stated below.

Knots, Pin:

Maximum of 1/8" diameter. Dark brown and black colors are allowable.

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 3/4" diameter. Small dark brown or black knot centers are allowable to 1/8" diameter. Knots which are solid dark brown or black color are not acceptable.

Number Allowable Panels Stiles & Rails
1 Widths up to 13" Lengths up to 24"
2 Widths 14" - 24" Lengths 25" - 81"
3 Widths 25" and Up Lengths 82" and Up
Knots, Cluster

Maximum of 1" diameter across the overall grouping. Clusters with up to (3) knots are allowed. Knots with dark brown or black centers are allowable to 1/8" diameter.

Number Allowable Panels Stiles & Rails
1 Widths up to 13" Lengths up to 24"
2 Widths 14" - 24" Lengths 25" - 81"
3 Widths 25" and Up Lengths 82" 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), dark green, dark brown or black color. No purple or blue colors. Allowable to a maximum of 3/16" in width and 4" in length.

Number Allowable Panels Stiles & Rails
1 Widths up to 13" Lengths up to 24"
2 Widths 14" - 24" Lengths 25" - 81"
3 Widths 25" and Up Lengths 82" and Up
Mineral Streak:

Solid line of dark green, dark brown or black color. Allowable up to maximum 1/8" width and 2" in total length. May be contained within a diffused mineral stain.

Number Allowable Panels Stiles & Rails
1 Widths up to 13" Lengths up to 24"
2 Widths 14" - 24" Lengths 25" - 81"
3 Widths 25" and Up Lengths 82" and Up

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