Thread: Fixing ripples in veneer

What glue did you use to glue it down with?
Waht is your substrate?
A few pics as well will always help.


Pete

You may have to start again , the timber veneer has taken a set, and with the glue underneath hardening & setting I do not like your chances of rescuing the job.

As has been said some PICTURES will help us to give a better answer.

Jeff
vk4

I used PVA and glued it down to particle board. To be honest, if i took a picture I dont think it would help because you wouldnt even be able to see the ripples, you can only feel them.

I have removed bubbles in marquetry pictures successfully before, and the technique used may work for you...but no promises.

I pricked the bubble with a pin, so that air inside could escape. Then used a hottish iron on top, with a slightly damp tea towel between veneer and iron, until the veneer was hot enough to soften/reactivate the pva. Then rub down with a wooden block (fair pressure), until everything cooled down again.

You may need multiple pinholes to release the air in the ripples, and there is a good chance that you may actually form a crease in the veneer. However, it could be worth a try.

I heard using an iron always works

I had this problem recently, first time I've use veneer too

Is it caused by too much glue? I used Titebond

Probably try the iron thing noted, but I found a light sanding with my ROS on slowest speed got it more or less totally flat....didn't go through it which I thought it might. Might not be good enough for a HSC project though.

Im pretty sure its been caused by too much glue rather than air pockets, so im not sure if the pin hole trick would work.

Marc-s
"The day after gluing, when I took off the weights I had on it, I discovered large ripples all over the design, which I'm fairly sure is due to using too much glue and not having even pressure."
You did not mention the pressure. You need around 4-8kg per square cm! I bet you did not have that. (for a 100x100mm surface you need 500kg) That is the main cause of veneering failure.
You need big clams if your work is big, it needs pressure in the middle as well. You cannot substitute with corners clamped.
To fix it is depends on how bad it is. Maye better to start it again.