Industries

Earth Friendly - Veneer reduces the harvest of both common and exotic woods. The milling process of hardwood veneer in and of itself reduces waste. Solid wood timber is typically sawn into 1" thick boards. The saw cuts a kerf between boards 1/16" to 1/4" thick that winds up as sawdust. Veneer on the other hand is not cut from the log but is sliced with a knife into leaves or sheets. That produces 42 veneer surfaces for every one that is gotten from a board and with no wasted wood that ends up as sawdust where the saw blade would have gone. That's over 42 surfaces of wood veneer for every one of solid wood, thereby increasing useable surface area substantially and reducing the demand for solid wood. Additionally, over time and under changing environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) many solid woods are prone to warping and cracking, prompting the replacement of solid wood pieces, fueling the demand for more solid wood. Stable substrates with veneer surfaces are not subject to the same elements over time. The substrates used beneath veneer offer an added benefit to smart forestry practices as well. Plywood and medium density fiberboard are made from younger and lower quality trees that are timbered out of stands where the remaining trees will grow faster and better due to less competition for sunlight and nutrients.

Consumer Friendly - Veneer affords the opportunity for people to have furniture made from woods that would otherwise be impossible due to rarity or the nature of the wood itself or the project for which it is used. The beauty and versatility of wood veneer offers cuts such as burls and crotches which are structurally unsound in solid form but are highly desirable when placed on a stable substrate. Many beautiful woods can rarely be utilized and appreciated unless they're used as veneer. Because veneer is so thin and is glued to a stable substrate, it allows matching of designs and arrangements of the wood that would be impossible to achieve in solid woods. Solid wood, even kiln-dried, expands in warm weather and contracts in cold. Intricate designs and patterns would be impossible in solid lumber because the seams would open in winter and swell, and then buckle in summer. Cross grain designs such as aprons and edge bandings are also impossible in solids. Solid burls are also largely unusable in solids but common in veneer. Amidst the growing concern of deforestation, many consumers may be reluctant to add to the demand for solid hardwoods, especially exotics. Veneer offers consumers a more earth-friendly compromise and functional benefits that are good for both. With good forestry and timbering practices, wood is one of the few truly renewable resources. Veneer versus solid wood is smart for the environment and the consumer. For those with concerns over solvent-based adhesives used in veneer application, the application process of veneer is now safer than ever for both environment and consumer. FormWood offers "DURABACK™", a resin-backed veneer that can be applied with water-based adhesives in states that have solvent-based adhesive restrictions. FormWood believes that the use of veneer versus solid wood is a smart practice in sustaining environmental resources for future generations. We continually look for new and innovative applications in which veneer can be used in place of solid woods and provide the look and longevity traditionally associated with solid woods.