How to Cut Birds Eye Maple for Veneer

Use a band saw to cut birds eye veneer.

Birds eye maple is tight-grained and dense. It is characterized by small circular swirls scattered throughout the amber-colored grain that resemble small eyes. It is expensive. To make it more affordable, it is sliced into thin sheets or pieces called veneer. It is then laminated to the surface of less-costly lumber or plywood to produce what appears to be solid birds eye maple. It's a technique you can do at home if you have a band saw.

Things You'll Need

• Plywood strip, 3/4 inches by 4 1/2 inches by 36 inches
• 2 hand clamps
• Birds eye maple, 15/16 inches by 6 inches by 72 inches

Instructions

1. Place the plywood strip on its edge on the left side of the band saw blade within 1/16 inch of touching the blade. The front of the strip should be on the far side of the band saw table. The end of the strip should be pointing at your body.

2. Place a clamp on both ends of the strip. The bottom jaws of the clamps should swing under the band saw table. Tighten the clamps to secure the strip to the band saw table. Place a push stick on the right side of the band saw table where you can reach it.

3. Stand the birds eye maple board on its edge behind the blade. Hold the maple against the plywood strip with your right hand. Turn on the saw. Place your left hand on the top edge of the maple board.

4. Push the maple board forward with both hands. It will slide along the fence and contact the blade. Keep pushing as the blade trims a 1/16-inch piece of veneer from the left side of the board. When you come to within 6-inches of the end of the board, pick up the push stick and use it to finish pushing the board through the blade.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a wide-belt sander available, run the veneer through it to get it ready for lamination. If you don't have a wide-belt, you can use a hand block to smooth the veneer and remove saw marks. The measurements of the maple are an example. You can cut veneer from any size of maple that will fit under the guard of the band saw.

• Don't push too fast. Push the wood through the saw slowly as possible to prevent the blade from wandering. If the blade does wander, back the maple out and ease it in again to straighten the blade. Wear safety glasses.