Either of these are better then a rotary peel, but what are actual differences in quality between the two as it affects them as installed products. A salesmen came in with samples of a Mirage offering, and when I asked him if it was sliced or dry sawn, he said both. As in both in the same box?He said yes. Hmmm, seems that could be a problem. Could it?

I don't operate a mill (wish I did) but when I think of sliced veneer, I think of the old Hartco Kingsford Strip. I believe in the mill, the knives slice down through the log to produce the veneer on sliced veneer. On solid sawn, they use a wide blade band saw to cut the log to produce the veneer. Supposedly, sawing doesn't crush the wood cells the way slicing does. I think the salesman may not know the difference.

What was the product?

It was Mirage, looked like Santos but not sure.

I thought sliced and peeled were the same thing.

Ummmm, me too Chuck. I'd want to ask the salesman to describe the "slicing" process.

Solid sawn uses a wide blade band saw to "rip" saw the veneer from the log. Can be done for plain or quarter sawn. Sliced uses large knives (cutters) to slice through the log to produce the veneer. Can be done for plain or quarter sawn. Rotary sliced is different than regular slicing. On rotary cut veneers, the log is wet and spun on a large lathe and the knife edge comes in from a slight angle to "peel" the veneer off. Off the three, rotary cut looks the least "natural" (like solid). A simple explanation:
http://www.marshfielddoors.com/FaceOpti ... rCuts.html

Ha, the salesman couldn't describe it, thats why I came here to ask. Thanks for the info!