I'm about to embark on the production of some kitchen cabinets. I plan to
use maple plywood for the rail and stile door panels. I'm considering the
use of some birds-eye or even fiddleback in at least a couple of doors to
provide an accent. I probably need a panel that is about 16" wide. Since
I'm not set up to veneer, the easist thing for me would be to find some 1/4"
maple plywood with a figured face. Not surprisingly, I've never seen it
stocked in my local place. I've Googled for it, and found a few places that
I've never heard of that supposedly carry it. The question is, does anyone
have personal knowledge of someplace that sells 1/4" birdseye or fiddleback
maple ply?
My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have to get
familiar with veneering. I'm aware of course that people who do lots of
veneering generally use a vacuum press, but for someone doing a 2-off
project, is there another way of veneering that produces decent results?

todd

In article ,
"Todd Fatheree" wrote:

My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have to get
familiar with veneering.

I'm looking to do something for a client. It also involves a couple of
birds-eye maple doors.
My client has done a lot of legwork as he is an active participant in
the design and execution of his bar/entertainment centre.
We had come to the conclusion that we were going to have to learn how to
do a proper veneer job. All I have ever done is the paper-backed veneers
using contact cement and some smaller stuff, more like marquetry.

I almost had him talked into some very credible laminate. Formica's
Ligna series is actual wood veneer, but very durable. The stuff is
bloody gorgeous even though it will likely raise whatever remaining
scary-sharp-shaven hair on the arm of the basic Neanderthal.
But I'm sure that a panel of that laminate, set in a solid wood rail and
stile frame will be awesome. Set up a deliberate contrast.

Todd, You can try the iron trick. Appy yellow glue to both the plywood and
the veneer. The veneer is probaly going to curl at first but after the glue
dries it will mostly flatten out again. After the glue has dried position
the veneer on the plywood and place a piece of craft paper over the veneer
to keep your iron clean. Then simply use a household iron on the cotton
setting and iron from the center out. DO NOT STEAM!!! I have use this
technique several times and it works like a charm!!
Gene

"Todd Fatheree" wrote in message
...
I'm about to embark on the production of some kitchen cabinets. I plan to
use maple plywood for the rail and stile door panels. I'm considering the
use of some birds-eye or even fiddleback in at least a couple of doors to
provide an accent. I probably need a panel that is about 16" wide. Since
I'm not set up to veneer, the easist thing for me would be to find some
1/4"
maple plywood with a figured face. Not surprisingly, I've never seen it
stocked in my local place. I've Googled for it, and found a few places
that
I've never heard of that supposedly carry it. The question is, does
anyone
have personal knowledge of someplace that sells 1/4" birdseye or
fiddleback
maple ply?
My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have to get
familiar with veneering. I'm aware of course that people who do lots of
veneering generally use a vacuum press, but for someone doing a 2-off
project, is there another way of veneering that produces decent results?

todd

Todd Fatheree wrote:

My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have
to get familiar with veneering. I'm aware of course that people who
do lots of veneering generally use a vacuum press, but for someone
doing a 2-off project, is there another way of veneering that
produces decent results?

1. Sandwich strate and veneer twixt 3/4" plywood. Apply pressure with
2x4 cauls - 2x4s that have a slight convex curve - top and bottom by
clamping the ends of each top/bottom pair so they bend flat and apply
pressure over the whole surface.

2. Sandwich strate and veneer between 3/4" ply but...
(a) after gluing/positioning veneer on strate cover it with a piece
of brown wrapping paper
(b) put a piece of 4" foam on top of the wrapping paper. Dense foam
is best but any will work.
Then put the second piece of 3/4" ply on the foam and clamp to bottom
ply along all edges so foam is squished down.

The advantage of #2 is that it applies a quite consistent and strong
pressure over the entire surface. No cauls to make either. The
wrapping paper is to act as a cover sheet...if some glue squeezes out
the sheet is easy to get off.

Or you could just use contact cement

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Contact Cement
"Todd Fatheree" wrote in message
...
I'm about to embark on the production of some kitchen cabinets. I plan to
use maple plywood for the rail and stile door panels. I'm considering the
use of some birds-eye or even fiddleback in at least a couple of doors to
provide an accent. I probably need a panel that is about 16" wide. Since
I'm not set up to veneer, the easist thing for me would be to find some
1/4"
maple plywood with a figured face. Not surprisingly, I've never seen it
stocked in my local place. I've Googled for it, and found a few places
that
I've never heard of that supposedly carry it. The question is, does
anyone
have personal knowledge of someplace that sells 1/4" birdseye or
fiddleback
maple ply?
My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have to get
familiar with veneering. I'm aware of course that people who do lots of
veneering generally use a vacuum press, but for someone doing a 2-off
project, is there another way of veneering that produces decent results?

todd

Todd,

I'm not sure why you wouldn't edge join solid birdseye boards for the
panel, but you may try Owl Hardwood Lumber Co for the veneered ply.

Des Plaines, IL - (847) 824-5025

I'm also not sure where you're located, so maybe this isn't convenient..

Cheers..
-Bill


George M. Kazaka wrote:
Contact Cement
"Todd Fatheree" wrote in message
...

I'm about to embark on the production of some kitchen cabinets. I plan to
use maple plywood for the rail and stile door panels. I'm considering the
use of some birds-eye or even fiddleback in at least a couple of doors to
provide an accent. I probably need a panel that is about 16" wide. Since
I'm not set up to veneer, the easist thing for me would be to find some
1/4"
maple plywood with a figured face. Not surprisingly, I've never seen it
stocked in my local place. I've Googled for it, and found a few places
that
I've never heard of that supposedly carry it. The question is, does
anyone
have personal knowledge of someplace that sells 1/4" birdseye or
fiddleback
maple ply?
My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have to get
familiar with veneering. I'm aware of course that people who do lots of
veneering generally use a vacuum press, but for someone doing a 2-off
project, is there another way of veneering that produces decent results?

todd

Well, that's an option, of course. However, I find it easier to cut a piece
of plywood the right size vs. planing, jointing, and gluing up a panel. The
Lombard Owl Hardwood is about 5 minutes away and I've never seen what I'm
looking for there, though to be honest, I've never really looked
specifically for it before. I'm going to head to the woodworking show this
weekend, and as I recall, there's always at least one guy there selling all
kinds of veneer. This might be the time to check it out.

todd

"WRQ" wrote in message
...
Todd,

I'm not sure why you wouldn't edge join solid birdseye boards for the
panel, but you may try Owl Hardwood Lumber Co for the veneered ply.

Des Plaines, IL - (847) 824-5025

I'm also not sure where you're located, so maybe this isn't convenient..

Cheers..
-Bill


George M. Kazaka wrote:
Contact Cement
"Todd Fatheree" wrote in message
...

I'm about to embark on the production of some kitchen cabinets. I plan
to
use maple plywood for the rail and stile door panels. I'm considering
the
use of some birds-eye or even fiddleback in at least a couple of doors
to
provide an accent. I probably need a panel that is about 16" wide.
Since
I'm not set up to veneer, the easist thing for me would be to find some
1/4"
maple plywood with a figured face. Not surprisingly, I've never seen it
stocked in my local place. I've Googled for it, and found a few places
that
I've never heard of that supposedly carry it. The question is, does
anyone
have personal knowledge of someplace that sells 1/4" birdseye or
fiddleback
maple ply?
My suspicion is that if I really want to do this, I'm going to have to
get
familiar with veneering. I'm aware of course that people who do lots of
veneering generally use a vacuum press, but for someone doing a 2-off
project, is there another way of veneering that produces decent results?

todd

"Gene T" wrote in
:

Todd, You can try the iron trick. Appy yellow glue to both the
plywood and the veneer. The veneer is probaly going to curl at first
but after the glue dries it will mostly flatten out again. After the
glue has dried position the veneer on the plywood and place a piece of
craft paper over the veneer to keep your iron clean. Then simply use
a household iron on the cotton setting and iron from the center out.
DO NOT STEAM!!! I have use this technique several times and it works
like a charm!! Gene

Hi Gene,

This is how I've done it too. Just one small addition: if you dampen the
frontside of the veneer with water just before you apply the yellow glue to
the back, the veneer will curl much less.

Nate