My First Veneered Panels

[mn pete]

Here they are...hopefully I don't get anymore surprises with these! :oo:

These will be used as box lid panels in an upcoming project.

Second Wind Workshop: First Veneered Panels (http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/06/first-veneered-panels.html)

[waveink]

Nice job Pete,

what are the veneers - they look pretty special!

[mn pete]

Thanks Waveink!

The smaller panels are English Sycamore and the larger are Karelian Birch. Every now and then I'll look around online for some solid Karelian Birch, but if I do find any it's either too expensive or really small (knife scales) so veneering is the best way I can incorporate it in my work right now.

[Robot]

Can people recommend where to buy veneers, including engineered veneers? Can you go to a place and look at them first (particulary in Melbourne) or do you just order them online? Do you order edging at the same time? How much might somebody pay per area?

Obviously I'm a newbie and haven't veneered before but am interested, particularly after reading the latest month of the Woodsmith Magazine (the Zebrawood liked particulary nice :2tsup:) and seeing how much the actual timbers for some of this stuff costs :o.

[mn pete]

I found both of these veneers on e-bay several years ago. I've not bought any from a local source yet. Here in the US we've got several woodworking-specific stores, Woodcraft, Rockler, etc... They carry lumber and some veneers.

There are a lot of on-line dealers as well and many times they'll post pictures of the actual sheets you can purchase. I've not ordered from any of them yet, but so far I am liking veneering, so I could become a regular customer soon! :)

[waveink]

Can people recommend where to buy veneers, including engineered veneers? Can you go to a place and look at them first (particulary in Melbourne) or do you just order them online? Do you order edging at the same time? How much might somebody pay per area?

Obviously I'm a newbie and haven't veneered before but am interested, particularly after reading the latest month of the Woodsmith Magazine (the Zebrawood liked particulary nice :2tsup:) and seeing how much the actual timbers for some of this stuff costs :o.

Hey Robot,

good to see you interested in veneering and the many possibilities it will open up. As for suppliers, there are big, national companies like Briggs and Gunnersons and the company listed in the Woodsmith article you mentioned who have extensive online websites with sample pics etc. They will have the engineered timber you saw in the article, which comes in sheets of consistent size - in some cases up to 600mm wide. They will also deal in leaves of 'real' timber. Leaves come from timber shaved off the log either straight through the log so it's generally variable in size but often narrower - from 150mm up to about 300mm is the widest you'll find, or sometimes it's cut in a roll (picture unwrapping a toilet roll) which will be available in more consistent sizes. The leaves will sell only in bundles from these larger companies - in my experience they require you to buy anywhere from 20 - 30 leaves in a bundle. If you want smaller lots you will need to go to a specialist or retailer like Carbatec. There's an excellent veneer specialist in Melbourne - Peter Scott-Young (03 9870 8733) who has a great selection and is very careful when selecting (and packing/shipping if you need that, like I do here in Sydney). I have ordered from him over the phone, and have spoken to people who have gone to him and he's been very helpful, even to first-timers, he has an enormous selection (some pieces only a few sheets, others a large bundle) and has hand-picked sheets based on their requirements. The price is higher in single leaves, but still much cheaper than trying to buy the real timber. Peter only carries 'real' timber as far as I know, not the engineered stuff. Hope this helps. Once you start in on veneering you will be hooked - it takes a little extra time and effort, but for special projects the rewards are certainly worth it.