The Ultimate Guide To Maple Veneer


Maple veneer is one of the most popular types of wood that people use in their homes. Maple trees are native to North America, and maple veneers are used for everything from furniture to floors, making maple a versatile option. The maple tree has many different varieties, all with unique characteristics like color and figure (unique markings). This article will cover some basic maple veneer information, including what it is made of, how you can choose the right type for your needs, and more!

What is Maple Veneer?

Maple veneer is a very thin strand of wood that has been sliced from logs. These are usually used for furniture, flooring, and other projects. Maple trees grow in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The sapwood is light-colored with brown or yellow veins, while the heartwood can be reddish to dark brown. Maple is known for its density, hardness, and durability.

The Various Types of Maple

There are several different types of maple, and they all have unique characteristics like color or figure (unique markings). Some common varieties include Red/ Soft Maple, White/ Hard Maple, Silver/ Big Leaf Maple. The most popular type is hard maple, with its white wood tone and darker grain lines when the veneer is cut.

  1. Red/Soft Maple

Red maple is closely related to silver/big leaf maples with a similar color and grain pattern. It is most commonly found in the eastern part of North America, but it can be bought anywhere. Red maple has a very light pinkish brown tone when its veneer is cut, which means you will want to pair this type with something darker to make the veneer more visible.

  1. White/Hard Maple

This type of maple is by far the most popular choice for woodworkers and has a white tone when its veneer is cut, along with some darker grain lines running across it, which makes this kind of maple very versatile in terms of color pairing. It can be used with almost anything because of its unique look.

  1. Silver/Big Leaf Maple

This type of maple is less common than red or white varieties, but it has still been highly sought after by woodworkers. Silver maples are also known as big leaf maples and have a silver tone when cut, which makes them pair well with darker hardwoods.

Maple Veneers

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The Different Types of Maple Veneer Wood Grain

As mentioned before, maple veneers come in different types like red or white, and each type has its own unique grain pattern that you should keep an eye out for when shopping around. Some common grains include Curly/ Birdseye Maple, Quilted/Flamed Maple, Tiger Maple, and Fiddleback/Tiger-Cross Grain.

  1. Curly (or Birdseye) Maple

It is characterized by its tight curls that resemble curly strands of hair or pine cones on branches. Quilted maple has undulating waves patterned with small “eyes” of light wood in the darker background.

  1. Tiger Maple (also called Striped or Flamed maple)

It has striking striping in its grain pattern. Fiddleback (or Tiger-Cross Grain) is known for the wavy patterns that resemble the wood grain on string instruments like violins, guitars, and cellos.

  1. Red Maple

It also goes by several names, including Curly Red Maple or Tiger-Striped Maple. It is known for its curly and wavy grain pattern that often looks like waves of fire when the wood catches the light just right.

  1. White/Soft Maple

It has a straight, tight graining with small flecks throughout it to give it an attractive appearance. Its color ranges from cream to light brown.

Maple Veneer Plywood

Maple Veneer Plywood is manufactured with a solid wood core and more than one layer of thick Maple veneer. When you require stability, this plywood is the finest option because it has the strength to hold screws or nails in place when they are being used to attach various elements together. If any scratches occur, the surface may be polished quickly and smoothly.

Maple Veneer Strips

Maple Veneer Strips are also available in the market. These strips can be used to make various items because their width is small, and they come with standard lengths of 12 feet, 16 feet, or 24-foot pieces. This type of veneer strip has not only got Maple species but also contains Birch, Hickory, Beech, White Oak, Red Oak, and Cherry.

Maple Veneer Particle Board

The Maple veneer particleboard is manufactured from wood chips that are compressed together in the presence of heat. The Maple species used for this type of plywood is either Birch or Aspen, and it comes with a thin layer of fine quality paper on its surface.

Maple Veneer Sheets

Maple veneer sheets are also available in the market, which you can use for different purposes like home décor, musical instruments, furniture making, and many more. Maple veneer sheets are available in different thicknesses like 0.45mm to 12mm that you can choose according to your requirements at the online store, where you will get all types of veneers for several other projects too.

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Maple Veneer MDF

The Maple species used for this veneer is birch, and it has a thin layer of fine quality paper on its surface. This veneer sheet can be used for making doors, cabinets, and several types of furniture items that you want to give an elegant look too.

Maple Veneer Roll

The Maple veneer roll comes with different widths like 16 inches, 24 inches, and 36 inches. You can use this veneer roll to enhance the beauty of your home décor as well as furniture items that you want to give a touch of elegance according to their color variations and grain patterns.

Plain Sliced Maple Wood Veneer Sheets

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Tiger Maple Veneer

The Tiger maple is also known by the name Birdseye Maple because its grains show a lot of fine-looking eyes or birdseye, and it is painted with different colors like yellow, green, and orange. This veneer type comes in small pieces, usually ranging from 120 square inches to 300 square inches, because the tree species used for this pattern is quite rare compared to other types of Maple trees.

Fiddleback Maple Veneer

The Fiddleback maple is also known by the name Curly Maple because it contains very tight curls on its surface, giving a beautiful look to the veneer. This type of veneer comes in small pieces, usually ranging from 100 square inches to 150 square inches, and they are available at an affordable price rate too.

Birds Eye Maple Veneer

The Bird’s eye maple is also known by the name Tiger Maple because it has a great number of eyes or birdseye, and the color variations are painted in yellow, green, and orange colors. This veneer type comes with small pieces usually ranging from 100 square inches to 150 square inches, which you can use for several other purposes as well.

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How Much Is A Sheet Of Maple Veneer?

The prices of the Maple veneer depend on a number of factors which include size, type, and thickness. The price can change from $20 to $100 depending upon these conditions, so you need not worry about it if you have purchased this plywood for your home décor or furniture making purpose.

What Is A Veneer Maple Top?

The Maple top is a wooden table that contains at least one layer of veneer on its surface, which you can choose according to your requirements. For example, if you are looking for something with an elegant look, then go for the fine quality paper veneers, whereas if you want something affordable but not so stylish designed, then use the medium quality paper veneer.

Is Maple Veneer Good?

The maple species used for this type of plywood is either Birch or Aspen, and it comes with a thin layer of fine quality paper on its surface which offers just enough color variations and grain patterns but at an affordable price rate too. This veneer is perfect for making furniture items giving them a glossy look, and also works well with different home décor projects.

How to Choose the Right Type of Maple Veneer for Your Needs

Maple veneer has many uses, from kitchen cabinets to flooring and furniture. The most common type is hard maple, with its white wood tone and darker grain lines when the veneer is cut. When choosing your maple veneers for a project, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The following will help ensure that your project is successful and that the maple veneer fits with what you have planned for it!

  1. What is the project you plan on using your maple veneer for?

The Ultimate Guide To Maple Veneer How to Choose the Right Type of Maple Veneer for Your Needs

  1. What are you trying to accomplish with the project?

Maple veneer has many uses, from kitchen cabinets to flooring and furniture. The most common type is hard maple, with its white wood tone and darker grain lines when the veneer is cut. When choosing your maple veneers for a project, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The following will help ensure that your project is successful and that the maple veneer fits with what you have planned for it!

  1. What is the overall design of your project?

How to Choose the Right Type of Maple Veneer for Your Needs The most common type is hard maple with its white wood tone and darker grain lines when the veneer is cut. When choosing your maple veneers for a project, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Maple Veneer Hanging Lamp

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Maple Veneers: A Diversity of Uses

There isn’t just one way to use maple veneer. There are several ways to use maple veneer depending on several factors like budget, time, and the project itself.

Here is a list of some common uses for hard maple veneers: kitchen cabinets, tables, and furniture tops, flooring, accent walls in homes or offices. Maple can also be used on smaller home goods like picture frames! The possibilities with this type of veneer are endless!

 Is Veneer Furniture Good Quality?

Veneer furniture is not made of solid wood. It consists of several thin layers over a less expensive core material, such as plywood or particleboard. The veneer can be real wood, but it doesn’t have to be. Is veneer quality good? Yes and no! Some manufacturers benefit from using higher-quality veneer and higher-density cores, while others use poor-quality materials that fade or distort easily.

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Is Veneer Hardwood Or Softwood?

The veneer can be made from either hardwood or softwood. The labeling on the furniture will usually give you a hint if this is not clear in the description.

What Are Veneered Surfaces?

Most manufacturers use three types of veneers: face, secondary and end-matched. Face veneers are applied to all surfaces of the furniture. A secondary veneer is used for joints and edges, while end-matched veneers are used to create panels indoors or drawer fronts.

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Kevin Nelson

I will always have a special place in my heart for woodworking. I have such fond memories working on projects with my parents on the weekends in the garage growing up. We built tables, shelves, a backyard shed, 10' base for a water slide into the pool, 2 story fort playhouse with a fire pole, and so much more. This woodworking blog allows me to write helpful articles so others can enjoy woodworking as much as we have.

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