Technical Reference

Veneer Figure

The appearance of veneer is largely influenced by cell type and orientation within the individual tree. These characteristics are generally referred to as the figure of the wood or veneer. Not every tree, even among the same species, will exhibit the same figure characteristics. A variety of differences can even be found within the same tree. How a section of tree is sliced into veneer will also determine the type of resulting figure. The following examples are some of the variety of figures available from Jacaranda as veneer sheets, and flitch veneer.

CHERRY Flat Cut is characterized by uneven grain accented with cathedrals. This is cut from the straight tree trunk.	TEAK Quarter Cut wood and veneer is sliced at a right angle to the groth rings. The close, parrallel lines are the cross section of the growth rings.	RIBBON SAPELE Ribbon Stripe occurs in species that grow with an interlocked grain such as sapele and mahogany. The ribbon-like bands are not a result of the annual growth rings.
CROTCH MAHOGANY Crotchwood figure is the result of the branching of limbs emerging from the tree trunk. As the branches grow and thicken, the wood fibers are crushed and distorted in all directions.	MAPLE Curly wood is most often found in walnut and the maples. Natural influences cause cells to grow in an alternating, wave-like pattern.	FIGURED ANIGRE Fiddleback has a tight, consistent ripple-like appearance. Wood with this figure is frequently used to make the back of quality stringed instruments, especially violins which was the inspiration for the name.
BIRDSEYE MAPLE Birdseye figure is found almost exclusively in maple. It is characterized by small knots unevenly scattered throughout. It's these knots that resemble eyes that give the figure ist name.	MAPLE BURL Burl growth may occur on a tree where it suffered injury or stress. This results in a distorted cellular growth on the surface of the tree. Most burls are relatively small, but some may grow to weigh several tons.	SAPELE POMMELE Pommele may also be referred to as mottled figure. Broken cross markings occur on ribbon figure species resulting in a "patch-work" appearance. A small, fine mottle is often called beeswing-mottle.
TAMO ASH Quilted figure is the result of rotary or half-round slicing of logs that have a "bumpy" surface. The uneven contour of the growth rings causes the quilted effect.	REALTEC AFRORMOSIA RealTec® is a patented process that physically alters the direction of normal, parallel cellular growth. The result is a fiddleback figure with a consistent texture and reliable supply.

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