Thread: Beginner making car console. Veneer advice

Hi all,

This is my first post and I'm a beginner at woodworking.

I am in the process of designing & making a new console for between the front seats of an old car. The original console is a basic open box designed to hold '8-track' cassettes. Naturally I've got all the original pieces in case I ever want to sell the car to a 'concours' fanatic but in the meantime I want to make a console which has a smaller ashtray (from a later model) and a couple of drink holders and a box towards the back floor to hold the fire-extinguisher. There will be one flip-top/ hidden hinge panel lid over the drink holders.

The basic woodwork is not a problem as I'm working with an experienced joiner.

What I need advice on is what timber to use as the base for the lid so that I can get a veneer specialist to do a top quality job of bookleafed walnut veneer on the top panel which will be straight with one very small curve af about 20 degrees about halfway along. Weight is not a concern

I have some light walnut veneer in bookleaf pairs to match the dash and siderails etc. After experimenting I've realised that I don't have the skills or aptitude to do the job myself to the standard of the original work so does anyone know of a veneer layer in Sydney or Melbourne (or in-between) for when the time comes?

Thanks in advance for any advice (& thanks for all the great reads on the forums)

Jeff