Design Solutions - Summer 2008 - (Page 52) How to Produce a Veneer Paneling Project W h at i s “ p ly W o o d ” ? The word plywood causes problems on some projects. Some people feel plywood simply is layers of wood veneers, similar to structural or softwood plywood. Section 200 in your 8th Edition Quality Standards Illustrated defines and illustrates all the panel products used in the entire Standard. Before selecting a wood species or a particular color or figure, it is important to understand how to choose the core of the panels. Section 200 is a great reference tool when a manufacturer starts using trade terms when describing the panel product. t y p e s o f pa n e l C o r e s Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is another type of mat-formed panel. The wood particles used in particleboard are “cooked” down to their fibrous state, and then formed under heat and pressure into panels. This is a great substrate to use under wood veneer because it’s so smooth and fine. By the way, it works under plastic laminate, too — it’s just The drawback and trade off is the tendency of some Lumber Core stock to telegraph through the crossbands and face veneers. If the core isn’t perfectly prepared, the visual effect is that of a shadow line appearing on the finished surface along the joint or joints of the core. Telegraphing is a risk whenever you put solid lumber under veneer. MEDIUM DENSITY FIBERBOARD CORE VENEER CORE The terms “core” and “substrate” are often used interchangeably. The types of panel cores are described starting on page 38 of the QSI. Forty-five-pound Medium Density Particleboard core is a great modern addition to our wood shops. It is used for a variety of applications, but is considered the substrate of choice for under high pressure decorative laminate (HPDL). The “tooth” of the particleboard is perfect for the bond between the adhesive and the HPDL. It is perfectly acceptable to use particleboard under wood veneers as well. As a matter of fact, when making paneling which needs to have a fire rating, particleboard is one of the most common choices — and a good one. PARTICLEBOARD CORE not used as often. MDF machines so well that it can even be profiled, primed and painted without any overlay.Some of the lesser used cores are described for you on page 39 of your 8th Edition Quality Standards Illustrated. Veneer core is what most of us think of when we say the word “plywood.” Of all the core materials, Veneer Core comes in the widest range of quality. That means there is really fine, stable, flat, solid veneer core, and there is really poor, unstable, twisty panels full of voids, cracks, and delamination. As a result, most woodwork professionals will avoid the use of veneer core. Reasons for that will be discussed later in this article. Old fashioned Lumber Core stock is also still available in some markets. One of the advantages of Lumber Core is its relatively light weight. When large panels or assemblies are being veneered, and weight is a consideration, this is at least one solution when it can be purchased by the manufacturer within the project budget. LUMBER CORE f i r e r e ta r d a n t C o r e For all the standard model fire codes, panels used to make furniture do not require fire retardant treatment, but most paneling attached to walls must meet the Class One or Class A flame spread of 25 or less. Even in spaces for which a Class III or Class C flame spread would be acceptable, there is virtually no material burn tested for less than Class I. As a result, you will always specify Fire Retardant Core for wood veneer paneling in spaces requiring any kind of rating. Fire R at ed Par t icle boa rd 52 DESIGN SOLUTIONS I summer 2008
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