How to Make Veneer? Boil Water, Add Log, Simmer, Slice and Dry
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Wood sliced into beautiful, wafer-thin sheets of veneer follow a carefully defined process.
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Veneer is ultimately graded and sorted by hand.
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Burls are treated similarly to logs.
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Burls stubs after veneer has been sliced off - these are sold for small wood projects.
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Veneer grading is done by hand in brightly lit rooms.
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M Bolke has a huge inventory of veneer.
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Veneer is graded and sorted by hand. The skill to do so is learned by experience - there is no other teacher.
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And that vast volume of veneer produced in Fairfield, OH is delivered across the U.S., and around the world.

Every veneer maker has its own recipe for cooking logs to soften them up and bring out the wood grain and color. The overall steps are similar among veneer mills, but like a fine restaurant, it's the selection of ingredients, recipe and its execution that spells the difference in making veneer. M Bohlke Veneer Corp. in Fairfield, OH,  has been manufacturing veneer for almost 50 years. The privately held company focused for decades on exporting fine hardwood veneers to  Europe. In recent years, domestic architects and designers have discovered this resource widely known in Europe, and the domestic business has taken off. Here's a snapshot of M. Bohlke Veneer Corp., which incidentally, also sells hardwood lumber, faces, reconstituted wood veneer, and logs.

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About the author
Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.