WHAT THE PROS KNOW: Build a Better Veneer-Core Panel
People are often surprised by our huge selection of plywood compared to home centers or local lumberyards. (A recent trip to The Big Orange Store revealed one (1) Oak hardwood plywood choice: we had 27 on the same day, and that’s only one species). But we are specialists, so it’s no surprise we have a much bigger selection.
On the other hand, WE get surprised by people asking what the difference is between our hardwood plywood and the panels that you can buy at the home centers. Consider this:
HARDWOOD PLYWOOD is one of the most important products we sell. Like everything else, there are different ways to construct a Veneer-Core Hardwood Plywood Panel.
Two-Step Veneering
Also known as Calibrated Blank Construction, is expensive because it takes longer, requires more labor, and requires two runs through the press. Core veneers are assembled and pressed first, without the face and back veneers. That “blank” is then sanded and calibrated to the desired thickness. Another trip through the press adds the face and back veneers, resulting in a smoother panel that is of a more reliable thickness.
One-Step Veneering
Is the more conventional manufacturing method. All of the veneers are sandwiched together in a single pass through the press. No sanding, no additional calibration. Faster… and cheaper.
DOES IT MATTER?
Absolutely. The One-Step process can result in the imperfections of the internal veneers “transmitting” through the face veneers, leaving high and low spots throughout the sheet. These imperfections are very visible and make for an inferior finish.
