FAQs

Our shop operates mainly via mail order, and so visits to our premises and order collections are by appointment only, please contact us to arrange an appointment.

If you are local and wish to collect your order, please wait for us to contact you to confirm when it’s ready and when to collect. This is so we can ensure your order is ready before you travel to us.

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Please note, visits to our premises are by appointment only.

We are closed at weekends and during UK public holidays.

Yes, we hope so! We have had the pleasure of working with a wide range of customers, on both large and small scale projects.

Please fill out our enquiry form or email info@originalmarquetry.co.uk with the below information. For inlay brass strips or fretwork, see the next few FAQs. We aim to respond within 1 – 3 working days with a quotation.

• Dimensions: For marquetry panels, note the sizes for both the marquetry and background.
• Materials: Include the wood veneer type. Additional materials may include brass, mother of pearl, abalone etc.
• Design/Sketches: Attach any relevant photos, designs, or sketches. Don’t worry if your design is not clear, we can revise it in our design studio.
• Quantity: For differing panels, the above information is required for each one.
• Project Overview: If you feel it’s useful, tell us a little about what you’re aiming to do.

Not yet, we are working to create one!

You can order online through our website. Or, if you’d prefer a chat, call us and order by phone.

We accept most major debit and credit cards (Maestro, MasterCard, Visa), PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and bank transfers.

If opting for PayPal, any debit or credit card registered to your PayPal account will be accepted, including Visa (Delta or Electron), MasterCard (or Eurocard), Maestro, American Express, and UnionPay.

No, however most items to Mainland UK will be sent via our UK Standard (Medium Parcel) service which starts from £8.95.

Some smaller items will be sent via our UK Standard (Small Parcel) service at £6.95.

We suggest signing up to our email notifications. Under the product description, enter your email address and click ‘Sign me up!’. We’ll then let you know as soon as the item becomes available again.

Most products are restocked within a 2-week lead time, occasionally this can be longer. Please contact us to check stock levels for large order quantities.

If you’ve ordered an out-of-stock product, we will contact you to advise when it is due to become available or if the lead time is delayed. If we cannot meet your requirements, we will offer you an alternative or refund.

Yes, but please be quick! If possible, make any changes on the same working day that you’ve placed your order.

If your order has already been dispatched, we regrettably won’t be able to make any changes, and so you will need to place a new order.

Yes, we can! At the checkout, please tick where it states: I’d like this to be a gift.

If your order is a marked as a gift, your parcel will not include a hardcopy invoice, but a packing slip, on which prices are hidden.

We use branded packaging tape, if you require plain packaging, please let us know in the order notes.

If you would like to include a message to the recipient, use Order Notes, and remember to add recipients name and address as the delivery address at checkout.

Please note: We are required to provide a commercial invoice stating your parcel’s value for orders to countries outside the UK. This is also required for locations such as the Channel Islands.

To register your account, visit https://www.originalmarquetry.co.uk/my-account/

Or create an account during checkout by ticking ‘create an account?’ located just below the phone and email address box.

Once you have an account, you can view your addresses, order history, and pay for outstanding invoices.

Mainland UK delivery prices are automatically calculated at checkout. The price is based on the product type and its size, particularly its length. Read more here.

Most items to Mainland UK will be sent via our UK Standard (Medium Parcel) service which starts from £8.95.

Due to the nature of our products, some items may incur surcharges or require the following services, available to Mainland UK only:

• UK Standard (1 Metre Parcel): £10.95
• UK Standard (Large Parcel): £14.95

Our small parcel service is a reduced delivery rate of £6.95, available to Mainland UK only. Eligible goods are under 15cm in size. Includes mother of pearl, abalone, paua shells, brass cabinet fittings, fret saw blades and very small marquetry panels. Eligible for orders with £20.00 maximum order value (this is the item value only and excludes delivery).

Yes, we accept orders from most countries. After receipt of your order, we will let you know if any delivery surcharges apply. At checkout, enter your country to view the delivery price or click the button below. Please note, Customs fees may apply, details noted below.

Yes, of course. We just ask you to please wait for us to contact you to confirm when it’s ready and when to collect. This is so we can ensure your order is ready before you travel to us.

Collection is available Monday to Friday, between 11:00am and 4:00pm. A packaging fee may apply if the goods require special attention to avoid damage during your transit home.

We do not use Royal Mail who are VAT exempt, instead we use couriers, whose services are VAT chargeable. Therefore, as a VAT registered company we legally have charge VAT on our delivery services to UK customers. Unfortunately, we have no control over this.

Where possible we roll up lengthy wood veneers. Not all wood veneers can be rolled, it depends on the wood’s thickness and malleability. If your order arrives as a cylindrical parcel, it is likely that we have rolled your wood veneers.

If you have purchased wood veneers, please unpack your parcel as soon as possible after delivery. Take care unrolling the veneer and try to avoid it from springing open, it could cause damage. Storing the veneer in this rolled form for a duration of time can cause it to keep its rolled shape.

We recommend storing wood veneer in a cool (around 10°C), dry place. Avoid rooms with high moisture. Keep flat and (if possible) under a weight or press. The weight should be evenly distributed.

Once payment has cleared, most orders are dispatched within 1 – 2 working days. Delivery excludes Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Delivery for our UK Standard (Small Parcel) occurs Monday to Saturday.

Estimated Delivery Times:

We work hard to dispatch all orders in a timely manner with priority given to Next Working Day orders.

99% of orders placed using our Next Working Day delivery service arrive the following working day.

We state it as 99% effective, as we ultimately depend on our couriers to complete your order process, and there may be unexpected conditions which could affect this timeframe.

Parcelforce is our main courier. Our small parcels are delivered by Evri or Royal Mail (Tracked). We may use alternative couriers for overseas, large or lengthy orders.

Our couriers automatically send helpful notifications, but these may be unavailable for certain services and countries. Notifications may include:

Sorry about this! Please contact us and we will send it through ASAP. They should have been supplied automatically after dispatch.

We package every order with great care and attention, but we know accidents can happen. If your item arrives damaged, please email us a photo of the damage. We will then investigate and respond as soon as possible with instructions for returns and a replacement or refund.

Notification must be made within 2 calendar days from receipt of order (delivery date) or otherwise claims may not be entertained.

During delivery, please check your parcel for any obvious signs of damage and record any issues with the courier before signing. If there is excessive or visible damage to the outer parcel, please refuse your delivery and contact us for a replacement. – Snap a photo if you can!

Yes, but please notify us as soon as possible. Orders cancelled prior to dispatch will receive a full refund.

Exclusions apply:

We cannot accept cancellations, returns, or issue refunds after receipt of payment for bespoke orders. Bespoke orders include made-to-order items. Or items which have been specifically ordered in for you due to zero or insufficient/low stock, and items outside of our standard product list such as custom-sized brass strips.

Cancellations, returns and refunds for Business to Business orders are made at the manager’s discretion and may not be offered.

Click here to view our dedicated wood veneers page, or here for coloured wood veneer information.

Are you restoring a classic car? Then yes, we can supply you with the wood veneer and the tools you’ll need to perfect your car dashboard.

You can of course choose any wood veneer type or wood species that you like. However, it’s common for car dashboards to be made using Burr Walnut wood veneer.

We have specially selected some of our more exquisite, larger burr wood veneers which are ideal for luxury car dashboards. View them here.

To help you get started, you may also need:

Marquetry Beginners Tool Set – TS1 (Worth £57.80)

£52.95 (£63.54 Inc VAT)

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Contact Glues – Super Contact Glue

From: £4.95

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Pearl/animal glue is recommended for most projects and is especially good for restorations and antique pieces.

Contact glue is ideal for shaped items rather than flat, and when wood veneer cannot be placed under a press or in clamps. Please note that once two items are covered in this glue and they make contact, they cannot be pulled apart. There are no second chances with this glue!

Glue film and other wood adhesives such as PVA are better suited for new projects. Ideal when the surfaces to be glued are in great condition, top quality wood veneers, and most importantly, are flat. We do NOT recommend glue film to be used with wood veneers over 0.6mm in thickness, as the thickness may stop the glue from penetrating. If using with burr wood veneers, we recommend testing a small section before applying to the full leaf.

Pearl Glue, Animal Glue, Scotch Glue, Hide Glue

From: £8.95

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Contact Glues – Super Contact Glue

From: £4.95

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Glue Film Iron On Hot Melt Adhesive

From: £0.95

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PVA Wood Glue

£2.95 (£3.54 Inc VAT)

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Thicknesses vary but are generally available as follows. Occasionally some may differ and so we ask you to please always check the thickness stated in the product description.

• Standard (Decorative) Wood Veneer: 0.6mm
• Burr Wood Veneer: 0.6mm
• Coloured Wood Veneer: 0.6mm
• Constructional Wood Veneer: 1.5mm, 2.0mm
• Saw Cut Wood Veneer: 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 3.0mm, 4.0mm
• Oyster Wood Veneer: 1.5mm

We will always send consecutive leaves if you order multiples of the same wood veneer. We know this is important should you be looking to book match them.

Please note, book matching most species on the length is often very accurate but book matching the widths (an end to end) can be quite difficult and may not create a very accurate match. This is also especially true with wider grain species such as, Magnolia (North American Tulipwood), Oak and Pine.

Yes, our coloured wood veneers have been dyed so that the colour penetrates the whole leaf. This means you can sand the veneer and the colour will not disappear.

Our wood veneers are mostly sold per leaf (sheet). Each wood type varies in size and are available as listed. We do not cut to down to custom sizes.

Smaller pieces of veneer are available in selected wood veneer packs but not sold individually. If you need an off cut or small piece of a particular veneer, contact us on the off chance we might have it.

The width at each end of a wood veneer leaf (sheet) may differ due to the natural way a tree grows, tapering towards the top.

So, there are sometimes 2 widths stated in the product description because the leaf can taper in size, with one end being wider than the other.

You may see the following in the product description:

No. 1 – 122 x 18 – 14″ (309 x 45 – 35cm)

… it means:

• No. 1: The product code. In this case, the product code is 1.
• Length: 122 inches or 309cm
• Width One: 18 inches or 45cm
• Width Two: 14 inches or 35cm

What about the thickness? The thickness is noted in the product description (3rd bullet point) just above where you choose the size.

Why are there 2 widths? Please see the previous question (above).

Book matching is one of the most popular veneer matching methods. Some of our wood veneers, especially burrs are book matched when photographed. This means 2 consecutive wood veneers leaves are opened like a book, laid side by side to mirror the grain and create a symmetrical pattern.

It can also be book matched in quarters, this is where the ‘open book’ is mirrored once again but using 4 leaves. This often creates a central focus. Essentially you can continue to book match until you have reached your required size… or run out of leaves.

Book matching is useful for making up a larger area with the use of smaller leaves, for when a natural large size is unavailable.

We will always send consecutive leaves if you order multiples of the same wood veneer.

Please note, book matching most species on the length is often very accurate but book matching the widths (an end to end) can be quite difficult and may not create a very accurate match. This is also especially true with wider grain species such as, Magnolia (North American Tulipwood), Oak and Pine.

Popular Book Matching Choices

Some wood veneers may have a repairable split. Once glued the split should be invisible. Sometimes these splits are in the wood’s nature and so naturally occur along the grain line. Where we’ve noticed a split, we often tape it together/closed to avoid further splitting.

Our wood veneers are either crown cut, quarter cut or rotary cut. Standard (decorative) wood veneers are sliced from solid timber, whereas saw cut wood veneers are sawn.

Crown cut wood veneers have more figuring usually creating a ring/elliptical design which is often referred to as the ‘cathedral effect’ or ‘cathedral crown’. A tree log is sliced entirely across its width.

Quarter cut wood veneers generally have a ‘stripy’ grain. A tree log is cut into quarters and then each quarter is sliced at right angles to the growth rings.

Rotary cut wood veneers are often heavily figured with unusual and intriguing grains, often seen on Birdseye maple. A tree log is cut from the outside using a peeling technique which produces relatively larger widths.

You may notice each wood veneer will have a number within its product description such as ‘Boxwood Wood Veneer No. 10’. We assign a number to each bundle or log so that we can easily identify and distinguish between them. Ultimately, easing your order processing time!

Click here to view our dedicated marquetry page.

Thanks for purchasing a marquetry panel, we hope you love it!

The panel is to be glued down with the veneer tape side uppermost (facing up) and visible. Place the panel under a press/weight or in clamps for the appropriate time, by following your adhesives drying instructions.

If you are new to marquetry or looking to take up marquetry, to start off, as a minimum, we recommend the following items:

• Wood Veneer Pack – A mixture of shades and wood types is ideal.
• Veneer Tape.
• Marquetry Craft Knife and a Cutting Mat, or see our Marquetry Beginners Tool Set.

Wood Veneer Packs

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Marquetry Beginners Tool Set – TS1 (Worth £57.80)

£52.95 (£63.54 Inc VAT)

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White Veneer Tape – Wide

From: £5.95

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Other useful tools include:

Click here to view our dedicated marquetry kit types guide.

A polyurethane-based adhesive, such as Gorilla Glue or Gorilla Wood Glue can be used for gluing metal to wood.

Please note: This is not a warranty, but a common recommendation made by our customers. We hope sharing this suggestion might be of some use to you. We recommend testing a small section before the full application.

Brasso, Autosol or any other preferred polishing method can be used to add shine to your brass strips.

Please note: This is not a warranty, but a common recommendation made by our customers. We hope sharing this suggestion might be of some use to you. We recommend testing a small section before the full application.

Our customers often state they have found using Rylard Brass Lacquer Incralac helps protect the brass from tarnishing.

Please note: This is not a warranty, but a common recommendation made by our customers. We hope sharing this suggestion might be of some use to you. We recommend testing a small section before the full application.

To fine cut mother of pearl, abalone, and other shells, we recommend using Gold Snail Fret Saw Blades, particularly No. 1 or No. 2 and with a slow speed. A piercing saw and bench hook may also be of use (links below).

Tip! For easier handling, use double-sided tape to hold down the mother of pearl onto a larger piece of MDF.

Disclaimer: This information is based on our experience. It is intended as a general guide and recommendation. It is not a warranty or specification. Before use, we advise customers test and determine that the material is suitable for their intended purpose.

Mother of Pearl

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Gold Snail Fret Saw Blades

Blade Number: 2

£4.95 (£5.94 Inc VAT)

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Deluxe Adjustable Piercing Saw Frame – T126

£12.95 (£15.54 Inc VAT)

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Bench Hook with Clamp – T301

£7.95 (£9.54 Inc VAT)

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Yes, click here to view our Useful Guides.

Veneer tapes are great for joining and holding veneers together before gluing down. The veneer tape side is to be glued uppermost (facing up) and visible. Once the glue is dry, the veneer tape can be removed by slightly dampening the tape and carefully rubbing it off with a scraper.

The most obvious difference is the colour. A white tape makes for a good contrast against woods which browner in colour. When removing the veneer tape, the colour difference can help make the removal easier.

However, the main difference between the tapes is their thickness and width, with the white tape being thicker and wider. Covering a large area? Less is needed when using a wider tape. Our widest tapes are 68mm (brown) and 70mm (white).

Our white veneer tape is also available perforated which can be glued both uppermost and facing down. We do not recommend perforated tape for marquetry panels or when gluing numerous veneers together. They are held better together with a non-perforated tape.

Brown Veneer Tape – Narrow

£6.95

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Brown Veneer Tape – Wide

£7.95

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White Veneer Tape – Narrow

£5.50

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White Veneer Tape – Wide

From: £5.95

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Two Holes Perforated White Veneer Tape

£6.95

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Before using our polishing kit, we recommend sanding the wood veneer in stages using high quality sandpaper. Start from a medium grade and work up to a fine grade (240 grit).

3M Sandpaper Sheets – T241

£6.95

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Unfortunately, samples are rarely available and often we cannot send free samples however, most are available to buy as a 1 metre length piece.

Unfortunately, we do not have any small brass strip off cuts and so cannot send free samples. However, most are available to buy as a 1 metre length pieces. L-Shape strips are usually 50cm in length.

Please look out for our occasional brass strip off cut offers as these can vary in length, some as small as 30cm.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide free samples of Mother of Pearl or other shells. However, most are sold individually.