On today’s Wood Talk “Weekend Edition” we’re talking about our experiences with veneer.
This show is inspired by a few different questions on veneer. So instead of answering each one we decided to just throw together a general show on veneer and how cool it can be.
Check out these other veneering things. Share your own source for veneer stuff in the comments below.
And for any veneering supplies, you can’t go wrong with Joe Woodworker
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7 replies on “WT267 – Talking Veneer”
Really interesting show, guys. Having never veneered anything I’m somewhat of a veneergin. I was curious about finishing a veneered project… besides the risk of sanding through the veneer and exposing the substrate (something I’m pretty confident I’d do), would your finishing approach be the same? Would you finish something veneered with fancy pants figured maple the same way you’d finish something made of solid figured maple?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Matt
Has anyone tried using CA glue to do veneer? What are your experiences? I imagine you could put the glue on the substrate and some spray on activator on the veneer before sticking it down.
Hey Andrew,
I also live in southeast Pennsylvania, and I also have a copious supply of wood in my yard, but the thing is, i really struggle to cut down the trees!!! My axe is so big and so heavy!!!! I can’t hold my axe to cut down the trees… Will you come hold my axe and cut down my trees!!!! I need a axe man to cut down my trees!!!!!
Hi guys,
I’m a long time fan. Your comments on the show about never having access to the best wood (unless you use veneer) struck me as kind of interesting. I live in Pennsylvania and have only bought lumber once. Over the past seven years my father and I have taken about 12 logs to the mill including six milled on my property by a sawyer with a portable mill. I can’t imagine that I’ll ever run out of wood; wide boards of beautiful black walnut, chestnut, hickory, honeylocust, mulberry, sycamore and tons of red and white oak (lots of it quartersawn with incredible flecking and medullary rays). I don’t mean to sound like a braggart, but there are so many beautiful figured logs that get burned as firewood on the east coast. Most tree companies just cut logs up because it’s not their business to worry about lumber. They need to get it off the homeowners’ property as fast as possible. Is it hard work to move those logs around? You bet, but if you’re willing to work hard, borrow or rent a truck and trailer, and wait a few years for everything to dry you can work with some of the best local woods out there at a fraction of the cost! Plus you’re saving a lot (relative) of carbon from being released back into the atmosphere.
P.S. I’m not trying to put you out of a job Shannon!
On the contrary Andrew, often people who go this route give lumber companies more business because they see just how much work and time goes into sawing logs into usable boards, properly seasoning them, and storing them for the long haul and figure they are better off letting someone else do it. Much respect to anyone who starts with a log for their lumber.
I’ve tried many different veneering techniques and not I ONLY used the iron on method of veneering. It works fantastic and I love that you can line up, tape in place, and then apply heat in a few small places to lock it into place before you iron on the whole thing. Too much heat does have a tendency to crack some wood species if the wood isn’t prepped first. Give it a try sometime. a $10 iron is way cheaper than a vacuum press system.
Hey guys. I’ve tried the method you mentioned where glue is applied to both veneer and substrate, allowed to dry, then activated by heat to fuse.
It was actually really simple and worked well. I used an iron and a j-roller to make the union of the parts. I’m imagining that the glue you use matters… I was using original TB that was slightly diluted.
Great show. Keep it up.