Solid wood panels glued from narrow staves, full length or finger-jointed, sanded to thickness and cut to size for furniture, shelving, stair treads and table tops.
An edge glued panel, often called EGP or a solid wood panel, is made by ripping kiln dried boards into narrow staves, gluing them side by side under pressure and sanding the panel flat. It gives a wide, stable solid wood surface that a single board cannot, at a lower cost than wide clear lumber. Furniture makers, cabinet shops and retailers use EGP for tops, sides, shelves, stair treads and any part that has to be wide and solid.
Four choices drive the price: species, stave type, face grade and glue. A finger-jointed rubberwood panel in BC grade is a low cost commodity sold by the cubic meter. A full stave white oak panel in AA grade with color matched staves costs several times more. Size matters too: a plant that presses to your exact size saves you waste, but standard stock sizes ship faster and cost less per piece.
Name the type on the RFQ. Factories that make one type well do not always make the others.
| Type | What it is | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Finger-jointed stave panels | Each stave is made of short pieces joined end to end with finger joints, then the staves are edge glued. Defects are cut out before jointing. | Shelving, cabinet sides, painted parts and cost driven furniture. Joints are visible on the face. |
| Full stave panels | Each stave runs the full length of the panel in one piece, with no end joints. | Table tops, visible furniture faces and stained work where finger joints are not wanted. |
| Stair tread blanks | Thick panels, often about 40 mm, made for cutting and nosing into treads. | Stair builders and millwork shops. Usually full stave on the visible face. |
| Furniture blanks | Panels cut to the net size of a part, with a small sanding allowance, ready for CNC or edge work. | Furniture plants that want less cutting and less waste in their own shop. |
| Stock sheet sizes | Standard sizes such as about 1220 x 2440 mm, or lengths up to about 4 m in finger-jointed panels, typical. | Retail, distributors and shops that cut their own parts. |
Starting points used across the trade. Your drawing sets the real values, and each factory confirms what it can hold on the quote.
| Spec | Typical value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 18, 20, 26, 30 and 40 mm, typical | Give the finished thickness after sanding. |
| Thickness tolerance | About ±0.2 to ±0.3 mm after calibrating sanding, typical | Tighter for parts fed into automatic machines. |
| Stave width | About 20 to 45 mm, typical | Narrow staves stay flatter. Wide staves look more like solid planks but move more. |
| Moisture content | 8 to 10 percent, typical | Panels should be at the moisture of the market where they are used. |
| Flatness | Bow and cup within about 1 to 2 mm per meter, typical | State a limit, and how panels are stored until shipping. |
| Glue class | D3 for interior use, D4 for wet areas, to EN 204 | State the class. Say if you need a test report. |
| Sanding | 120 to 180 grit on both faces, typical | State the grit if you finish the panels yourself. |
Typical values, not a guarantee. Confirm every value that matters to you on the quote and the approved sample.
The usual process chain, from dried lumber or panels to packed goods. Ask which steps happen in-house and which go out to another plant.
Stock grades and sizes are often sold by the cubic meter, with a full container mixed across a few sizes. Custom sizes and grades usually have a minimum per size. A first order often starts with sample panels to approve grade and color.
Buy panels or cut blanks for tops, sides and shelves. They care about grade, color sorting and flatness.
Buy standard sheet sizes and shelf boards in volume. They need consistent grade, labels and packing for store handling.
Buy thick full stave panels for treads, sills and shelving. They care about glue line strength and clean faces.
With these points stated, every matched factory quotes the same product.
Approve one sample in writing and keep it as the reference for every shipment.
The problems that cost buyers of edge glued panels the most time and money, and how to head them off in the RFQ.
Related guides:
In a full stave panel every strip runs the full length in one piece. In a finger-jointed panel each strip is made of short pieces joined end to end. Finger-jointed panels cost less and are very stable, but the joints show on the face.
The first letter is the face, the second the back. A is clear with even color, B allows small knots and color change, C allows more knots and filled defects. The terms vary by plant, so define them with photos or a sample.
For indoor furniture, a PVAc glue rated D3 under EN 204 is common. For kitchens, bathrooms and other wet areas, ask for D4 or EPI glue. State the class in the RFQ.
Yes. Many plants press panels to size or cut blanks to your net size with a small allowance. Some also edge profile, bore or CNC the parts. Send a cut list or drawings.
A well made glue line is usually stronger than the wood around it. Strength depends on correct glue spread, pressure and moisture. Ask for samples and break a few glue lines to check.
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