Thread: first attempt with veneer

CK, I like this box. Like every one you've shown us, this is well executed.

I'm curious about your choice of substrate for the veneer panel. In my limited experience, I believe most woodworkers choose a very stable substrate such as MDF or Birch plywood 3 - 4 mm thick. In the case of a panel such as the one you show in the pictures, the veneer is normally applied to both sides of the substrate. The reason is that the substrate forms a stable base for the veneer which will easily crack or split if there is any movement in the substrate due to expansion/contraction. Did you take this into consideration?

Beautiful box. I've been wanting to try some veneer but haven't yet. I may have to try it after Christmas. I love some of the burl veneers I've seen.

You did an excellent job on this box.

More excellent work Cisco!

Corey

Originally Posted by DPB

.... the veneer is normally applied to both sides of the substrate. The reason is that the substrate forms a stable base for the veneer which will easily crack or split if there is any movement in the substrate due to expansion/contraction. Did you take this into consideration?

Well DPB, to put it in a nutshell, no I did not. Thank you for telling me this though as you have probably saved me from much grief in the future. Here's how this happened. I am currently working on a project where a crotch veneer panel will be prominently displayed on the front of a workpiece. No worries about doing both sides since nobody will ever see the back, but I will be bookmatching two pieces of veneer. So I ordered some very nice pieces of veneer from a vendor in New York and, this man being a very standup guy, actually sent me some bonus pieces for free just for placing an order! Naturally, customer service like this will not go unnoticed and, the first of the new year, I am going to send him some nice planks of exotic hardwood. He has an exotic hardwood site that is a virtual encyclopedia of hardwoods from around the world. Do a Google search on hobbithouse hardwood and you will find it. Very nice site. Anyway, he sells veneer to help pay for the site. He also turns some rather nice bowls on the lathe.
So I think to myself I better try out a piece of this veneer before I try the big cahoona project just to see what this stuff is like to work with and you see the results. Onlly applied it on one side and in all likelyhood glued it to a piece of wood that will expand and contract and probably ruin the whole thing. I tell you, if it weren't for learning things the hard way, I wouldn't learn anything at all. Still - I do learn a great deal from reading posts at this site. And I thank you all for sharing your expertice.

Cisco, that's how I learn as well.

Just to re-emphasize the point, always put the veneer on both sides of a thin substrate. Doing so counteracts the force on one side against the force of the other. If it's not a side that will be seen, then use the poorest portion of the veneer - probably a part you would otherwise throw away.