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Plain Slicing (or Flat Slicing)
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This is the slicing method most often used to produce veneers for high quality architectural woodworking. Slicing is done parallel to a line through the center of the log. A combination of cathedral and straight grain patterns result, with a natural progression of pattern from leaf to leaf.
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Quarter Slicing (or Quarter Cut)
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Quarter slicing simulates the quarter sawing process of solid lumber, roughly parallel to a radius line through the log segment. In many species the individual leaves are narrow as a result. A series of stripes is produced, varying in density and thickness from species to species. "Flake" is a characteristic of this slicing method in red and white oak.
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Rotary
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The log is center mounted on a lathe and "peeled" along the general path of the growth rings like unwinding a roll of paper, providing a generally bold random appearance. Rotary cut veneers may vary in width and matching at veneer joints is extremely difficult. Almost all softwood veneers are cut this way.
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Rift Slicing (or Rift Cut)
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Rift veneers are produced most often in red and white oak, rarely in other species. Note that rift veneers and rift sawn solid lumber are produced so differently that a "match" between rift veneers and rift sawn solid lumber is highly unlikely. In both cases the cutting is done slightly off the radius lines minimizing the "flake" associated with Quarter Slicing.
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The individual pieces of veneer sliced or peeled from a log are called "leaves". They are kept in the same order they were cut from the log. This allows natural grain progression when faces are assembled. All the veneer leaves cut from one log is called a "flitch". Specific groups of leaves within a flitch are called "books". The slicing method and handling of the veneer leaves will determine the appearance of the door face.
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