Core Types
Columbia specializes in making all-wood veneer core hardwood plywood,
but we can also apply our faces and backs to a variety of other
cores and core types we purchase from outside sources.
Veneer Core
Veneer Core is produced by placing the "lines" of core veneers into the panel "sandwich"
so that adjacent plies having a grain direction oriented at approximate right angles
to each other. Veneer core panels are relatively light in comparison with composite
core panels, typically weighing about 70 pounds per 3/4" panel.
Veneer core offers superior physical properties than either PBC and MDF, but they
may exhibit a bit more thickness variation.
Due to ever decreasing face veneer thicknesses, slight imperfections on a veneer
core surface may show through or "telegraph."
Veneer core may be manufactured with fir, aspen or yellow poplar, or a combination
of these.
MPX core is Columbia's newest
core innovation using extremely smooth poplar hardwood cross bands under the face
and back. These poplar crossbands are peeled on state-of-the-art Meinan® lathes
producing the smoothest domestic all-wood core in North America.
Multi-layered core is a
specialty all hardwood “European style,” high ply-count birch veneer core blank.
This core is often used for decorative applications where the panel edge is revealed.
Europly PLUS® is a NAUF panel. A 3/4" EuroplyPLUS panel weighs about 85 lbs.
Particleboard Core (PBC)
is composed of wood particles bonded together with adhesive. It's the least expensive
core option, with a smooth, void-free surface. PBC is very uniform in thickness
and density, but is heavy weighing about 100 lbs per 3/4" panel.
Medium Density Fiberboard
(MDF) is composed of wood fiber bundles bonded with adhesive. It offers a very smooth,
void-free surface. MDF has greater strength and screw holding properties than particleboard
and weighs around 100 lbs per 3/4" panel. MDF is a good choice for very thin panel
applications.
Combi-Core is constructed
of veneer core inner plies with particleboard or MDF cross bands next to the face
and back. Offers similar strength and stability to veneer core but has the void-free
surface quality of PBC or MDF. Combination core (combi) panels like Classic Core
replace veneer crossbands with a thin layers of MDF which visibly reduce core veneer
telegraphing.