Plywood machinery: The veneer slicer comprises apparatus for reciprocation  a flitch from which veneer is to be sliced, apparatus for supporting a knife for slicing veneer from the flitch as flitch is reciprocated. and apparatus for supporting a pressure bar for contacting the flitch and exerting pressure on the flitch. The knife supporting apparatus and veneer reciprocating apparatus are movable relatively toward each other prior to a stroke of the flitch reciprocating apparatus during wihich the knife is in contact with the flitch to thereby remove a slice of veneer from the flitch. The apparatus for supporting the pressure bar is separately controlloable from the knife supporting arraratus.