Tutorial 1 - Veneer lesson

Furnier

Veneering is to fix a thin layer of wood on to the surface of an inferior plate material to give an attractive finish.

Mostly it is used to give a huge surface a wood-look without the bad habits of massive wood. Above this veneer is per m2 cheaper then massive wood. Veneer always has to be fixed on both sides of the plate material to avoid warping. The best way to avoid this is to use the same veneer on both sides, because then plate material stays in balance.

Cutting veneer

The process goes like this: with a very sharp and thin hobby-knife you carve along a steel lineal or a straight MDF-strip, they have to be firm enough to avoid bending sideways while you are carving. Always carve with the structure of the wood. Otherwise the fibre’s can be torn loose and the veneer doesn’t get straight.

Tape the head-sides to avoid rending of the sides. Also moistening (not soak) the veneer can help with the carving en flat pressing. It’s very normal when veneer is uneven.

Examples:

Putting it together

If you are satisfied with your work, you can start putting the veneer together. You can do that with special gummed tape or with painters tape. Lay two parts together and pull them tighter with the tape. To check your work, hold it up into a light, a good joint will not let the light through.

Pressing with a hot iron

White wood glue (PVAC-glue) can be pressed with a hot iron. This method is used when it isn’t possible to use a press. Put a thin layer of glue on the plate material and on the veneer. Let it dry.

After a half-hour the glue is dry enough and the veneer can be placed on the plate. PVCA-glue is thermoplastic glue and gets soft when warmed up. Press hard enough with the iron to get the veneer straight on the plate. Start at the centre and work towards the edges. Through the heat from the iron the glue sticks together and hardens quicker.

Pressing between planks

fineer Do-it-youself press
  1. pressure shelf's
  2. press plates
  3. paper
  4. veneer
  5. plate material

After pressing

Allow the veneer to dry a one night before you take it out the press. And then allow it to dry a day or more, because all the glue damps have to get out the veneer before you can clean it. Do remove the tape. Never ever place the plate in front of a heat source, the junctures will open then.

Sanding

Use sandpaper that is fine enough to avoid scratches in the veneer. Start with rough sandpaper and finish with fine sandpaper. Always work with the nerves of the wood.

Varnishing

Never start with varnishing before the glue is really dry. The glue has to be dry to avoid damage from locked in moisture.

Finish

fineer

The idea behind this lesson is to introduce people to the making of veneer. Because we can’t control the use of and working with veneer we don’t accept any responsibility.

If you have any questions, please contact the following address.

Helmut & Angelique Miltkau
Leuterweg 78
5915 CJ Venlo
Tel: 0031-(77) 3523417
bibian.poppenhuis@home.nl
www.poppenhuis.com