Veneer?

[philipbarrett]

Just completed my first home-brew cabinets (bass reflex, still waiting for UPS to stop by with the FE87Es). I started this project as a cheap way to hone some woodworking skills & get some experience with MDF, to that end I pretty much sourced everything at my local Lowes.

My only disapointment was the veneer (oak), it seemed very thick to me, was difficult to cut & and prone to splintering. Is this common or is there a better brand or type of veneer I should be looking at for my "real" project?

Thanks for any help.

PB

 

[one1speed]

This site has a lot of different veneer products, including flexible veneers, etc.

http://www.rockler.com/index.cfm

 

[BobEllis]

Here are a few others. I've used tapeease a few times.

http://www.tapeease.com/Home.htm

http://www.wood-veneers.com/

http://www.certainlywood.com/

http://www.oakwoodveneer.com/

http://www.cambridgecinemas.com/jww.htm

Joe woodworker also has vacuum bagging equipment and tutorials that may make your next job easier.

10 mil paper backed veneer is generally pretty flexible, depending on the grain orientation. I've heard of people bending it over 3/4" or less radii, but I have never done it over less than a 1-1/4" radius.

You could try a veneer softener, as shown in this article http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/flattening.htm

As for cutting without chipping, try a knife or a very sharp veneer saw. I prefer a knife, but the saw is traditional.

If your problem is trimming, a very sharp block plane held so that the nose is down (cutting pressure pushes into the substrate) works well with practice. Another option is a downcut spiral trip bit in a router.

 

[Semisentient]

I recently veneered for my first time.

I bought paperbacked veneer that was very pliable. It said it was "tenderized". The front edges of the cabnets I made had a 1/2" curve and this stuff could bend even against the grain around that just fine...

Here is a pic:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=760412#post760412