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+-- Thread: veneer vs solid wood (/showthread.php?tid=7365045)
veneer vs solid wood - Halfathumb - 09-18-2021
Is there a sure fire way to determine if a table top is solid wood vs veneer?
Jim
RE: veneer vs solid wood - museumguy - 09-19-2021
Usually just looking at the top you can tell. Look at the seams between boards. Usually, solid wood seams are more obvious than veneer seams.
RE: veneer vs solid wood - WoodworkerTom - 09-22-2021
<p>Look for grain patterns to be fairly consistent on the top and bottom of the piece or if you can see face grain traverse into the edge grain sections. If there is no end grain on the edges it's probably veneered.</p><p><br></p><p>If it's an older piece it might be veneered to plywood so if the weight is less than solid wood it's probably ceneered.</p>
RE: veneer vs solid wood - Aram - 09-22-2021
<p>
(09-19-2021, 08:35 AM)museumguy Wrote: Usually just looking at the top you can tell. Look at the seams between boards. Usually, solid wood seams are more obvious than veneer seams.I'm gonna have to go ahead and kind of disagree with you there. (Office Space moment). A good solid wood joint can be very had to find.</p><p><br></p>
RE: veneer vs solid wood - rwe2156 - 09-23-2021
Look at the bottom - it will either be covered in a different veneer, or not veneered at all. If its particle board, its a dead give away.
Look at the end grain - or should I say lack of endgrain.
Often there is no endgrain b/c the substrate is edged with solid wood and mitered in the corner.
If there is a profile on the edge, sometimes you can tell the wood is different and again - no endgrain.
RE: veneer vs solid wood - PaulM85 - 09-23-2021
<p>
(09-18-2021, 12:08 PM)Halfathumb Wrote: Is there a sure fire way to determine if a table top is solid wood vs veneer?
Jim
</p><p><br></p><p>Like others said look at the grain pattern on the top and edges, see if the grain lines up with the end grain, also it's common to see a cheaper different species balance veneer on the bottom . See if the grain on the bottom matches the top can you see the grain continue from the top through the sides/end grain to the bottom. Get out a magnifying glass and look for glue lines where the top and bottom meets the edges. Glue lines can be difficult to see especially on old furniture that have darkened edge profiles or years of dirt build up, you may need to do some clean up to see better. A little tip I learned the hard way is sand the bottom of the piece first, if you sand through an edge that will never be seen it's a lot less stressful to deal with. Start sanding with the finest grit that you think you can get away with and do the sanding properly.</p><p><br></p><p>Paul</p><p><br></p><p>Paul</p>
RE: veneer vs solid wood - TomFromStLouis - 09-28-2021
(09-18-2021, 12:08 PM)Halfathumb Wrote: Is there a sure fire way to determine if a table top is solid wood vs veneer?
Jim
Yes Jim, there is. Drill a hole through it or saw it in half.
RE: veneer vs solid wood - AHill - 09-29-2021
(09-18-2021, 12:08 PM)Halfathumb Wrote: Is there a sure fire way to determine if a table top is solid wood vs veneer?
Jim
Look at the underside. It's rare they veneer the underside of a veneered table top. Even if it's veneered, the grain won't match the top.
RE: veneer vs solid wood - MauleSkinner - 09-29-2021
TomFromStLouis Wrote:Yes Jim, there is….saw it in half.That would require measurement and planning. I think any fractional cut would work.
RE: veneer vs solid wood - Halfathumb - 09-29-2021
(09-18-2021, 12:08 PM)Halfathumb Wrote: Is there a sure fire way to determine if a table top is solid wood vs veneer?
Jim
After using these and other procedures I'm confident that there is no veneer on the table.
Thanks to everyone's input & suggestions.
Jim