Slip Matching Illustration Slip Matching

Often used with quarter sliced and rift sliced veneers, this is the process in which a sequence of matching veneer leaves or consecutive sheets of veneer are slipped out one after the next, to form the face of a panel product. This results in all the same face sides being exposed. The visual effect shows a grain figure repeating, but joints do not show grain match.

The lack of grain match at the joints with slip matching can be desirable. The relatively straight grain patterns of quartered and rift veneer generally produce pleasing results and a uniformity of color because all faces have the same light refraction. This is in contrast to book matching where alternating leaves are turned over.