Knots vs. Pips & Pins in Wood Veneer: Understanding the Difference

If you work with real wood veneer, you’ll know that no two sheets are ever the same. That’s the beauty of a natural material — but it’s also where confusion can creep in.

One of the most common complaints we hear is:

“This veneer has too many knots — it’s unusable.”

In most cases, what’s being identified as a knot isn’t a knot at all. It’s a pip or pin, and understanding the difference can help avoid unnecessary rejection of perfectly usable, high-quality veneer.

Let’s break it down.

What Is a Knot?

A knot is formed where a branch once grew from the trunk of a tree. In solid timber, knots can affect strength and stability, and in veneer they are usually:

• Large and clearly visible
• Darker in colour
• Irregular or circular in shape
• Often cracked or loose

In veneer production, true knots are generally graded out or limited depending on the veneer grade. Large knots can interrupt the grain and, in some applications, may not be suitable.

In short: knots are structural features of the tree and are often considered a defect in veneer.

What Are Pips and Pins?

Pips (sometimes called pins) are something entirely different.

They are:

• Tiny dark dots or pin-sized marks
• Usually uniform and scattered
• Not structural defects
  
• A natural characteristic of many wood species

Pips and pins are caused by dormant buds, mineral deposits, or small cellular variations within the tree. They are especially common in species such as oak, walnut, and ash.

Importantly, they do not affect the performance or stability of the veneer.

Why Pips & Pins Are Not a Fault

This is the key point:
Pips and pins are a natural characteristic, not a defect.

They:

• Do not weaken the veneer
• Do not cause failure during pressing or finishing
• Do not indicate poor quality material

In fact, many designers and architects actively seek out veneers with visible natural character. Pips and pins add authenticity and visual interest — something that simply can’t be replicated with man-made materials.

Rejecting veneer because of pips or pins often comes from expecting uniformity that only engineered or printed surfaces can provide.

Natural Veneer vs. Manufactured Uniformity

Real wood veneer is sliced from real trees. Trees grow organically, not uniformly. Variations such as grain movement, colour shifts, pips, and pins are part of what makes veneer:

• Genuine
• Unique
• Sustainable
• Visually rich

If a project requires a perfectly consistent, blemish-free appearance, a reconstituted or engineered veneer may be more appropriate. But for real wood veneer, some level of natural marking should always be expected — and embraced.

Choosing the Right Veneer for Your Project

Understanding the difference between knots and pips helps ensure the right material is selected from the start.

• If you need clean and uniform: specify a higher grade or engineered veneer
• If you value natural character: pips and pins are part of the appeal
• If in doubt: ask your veneer supplier to clarify grading and expectations before ordering

Clear expectations lead to fewer rejections, less waste, and better results overall.

In Summary

• Knots are large, structural features and may be restricted by veneer grading
• Pips/pins do not make veneer unusable
• Natural variation is a defining feature of real wood veneer
• Pips and pins are small, natural markings and are completely normal

Real wood isn’t perfect — and that’s exactly why people choose it.