I tend to agree but I am awfully ignorant. The way I understand it,
veneers are just thin sheets glued to the point wood. Only one
"point" is actually cut. I wish I had a slight clue as to how recut
points were constructed. Definitely seems like more work on the
surface. If you have some free time can you share some of your
knowledge as to how recuts are constructed, for the dummies
like me? :embarrassed2:
A point is constructed by cutting an angled v-groove in the wood and then gluing another piece of wood into said groove. When cut flush, it gives the triangular design that you know as a point.
Veneers are thin sheets of wood, usually dyed to give color, that are laminated together. The now laminated sheets are cut to encompass the point wood, giving it the outlined effect. Most guys put a mitered edge on the veneer lamination, much like the trim around a door or window fit together. Once glued into the groove with the point stock, you now have a triangular design that has a colorful outline.
Recuts are where the point groove is cut, stock glued in & cut flush, then repeated. You basically cut a point groove into the already existing point, and glue in a different kind of wood. It results in an outlined point design similar in appearance to veneers, except that there are no mitered glue joints. It also utilizes an array of contrasting colored woods rather than the thin sheets of dyed wood.
I would never say one way is better than the other because in reality they are completely different and both have their place. Sometimes they can be used in unison. The major difference is that recutting can open a much higher level of design potential, essentially limited only to imagination. You can only go so far with veneers alone. I guess the best way to describe it, from a builder's perspective, is that veneers are accent components where recuts are structural design components. That said, a simple single recut basically gives the same overall appearance as a veneer. Another major difference is that the recut thickness can be set for as thin or thick as you like, where veneers are only available in a few thicknesses. Again, one is not better than the other, merely different. Apples & oranges.
Here's a couple pics showing a forearm with points cut and glued, before and after cutting flush:
Here's the same blank with butterflies cut over the points, glued up, then cut flush:
Here is the same forearm after recutting with ebony over top of the tulip wood, to give the effect that the tulip points & flies are floating:
