What's a "Layon"?

The terms "leaf of wood veneer" and "layon" are related to veneering, but they refer to different stages and forms of the material:

1. Leaf of Wood Veneer

• A leaf is a single, thin slice of wood veneer.
• It is typically cut from a log using methods like rotary cutting, slicing, or sawing.
• Leaves are usually around 0.5mm to 1 mm thick.
• Each leaf retains the natural grain and figure of the wood.
• Leaves are raw and unassembled — they're the basic units used to create veneer sheets or patterns.

Analogy: Think of a leaf as one page from a book — unbound, single, and part of a larger set.

2. Layon

• A layon is a pre-assembled sheet of veneer made by joining multiple leaves edge-to-edge.
• The leaves are matched (e.g., book-matched, slip-matched) to form a specific visual pattern or symmetry.
• Layons are ready for pressing onto a substrate like MDF or plywood.
• They are often trimmed to standard sizes (e.g., for door panels, furniture tops).

Analogy: A layon is like a full sheet of wallpaper made from smaller strips carefully arranged to form a design.

Summary