Part 1
Introduction
Welcome
Veneering Basics
14 Good Reasons
Vacuum Press Uses
Deciding on a Model
Overview
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Part 2a (Option 1 of 2)
Project: V2 Venturi Press
About Project: V2
Parts List
Build the Manifold
Build the Reservoirs
Assemble the Venturi
Make the Carrier
Wire the Press
Testing and Adjusting
Mods and Options
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Part 2b (Option 2 of 2)
Project: EVS Pump Press
About Project: EVS
Parts List
Pump Selection
Build the Manifold
Build the Sub-Manifold
Build the Reservoirs
Make the Carrier
Final Assembly
Wire the Press
Testing and Adjusting
Mods and Options
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Part 3
Vacuum Bags
Vacuum Bag Basics
Polyurethane vs. Vinyl
DIY Vacuum Bags (A)
DIY Vacuum Bags (B)
DIY Vacuum Bags (C)
Connect the Bag
Bag Closures
Platens/Cauls
Breather Mesh
Maintenance
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Part 4
Veneer Information
About Veneer
Backer Veneer
Veneer Glues
Veneering Tips
Substrate Materials
Flattening Veneers
Edgebanding Guide
A Sharp Veneer Saw
Jointing Veneers
Taping Veneers
Dealing with Defects
Curing Glued Panels
Veneering w/o Vacuum
Iron-On Veneering
Veneer Storage
Amazing Bookmatches
Copper Veneer Guide
Paperbacked Veneer ____________________
Part 5
Miscellaneous Info
Vacuum Forming
Vacuum Chucking
Vacuum Clamping
Vacuum Clamp Matrix
Vacuum Infusing
DIY Vacuum Manifold
JWW Visitors' Vacs
Veneer Quality
HH-66 MSDS
Veneering FAQ
The Vac FAQ
Downloads (PDF's)

Even the highest grade veneers can have mild to moderate rippling. Crotch and stump veneer almost always arrive with a fair amount of rippling or bubbling. This is often caused by areas of high compression in the wood cells which expand and contract at a different rate than uncompressed cells.

Veneers that have very slight "bubbling" can be glued to a panel without flattening. The key is to lightly mist the top side of the veneer with water or veneer softener after it has been placed on the freshly glued substrate. If you do spritz the veneer face, its a good idea to mist the balance veneer as well (even if it is not bubbly).

The Quarter Trick
There's an old trick that I learned from a craftsman in Jarrettsville, Maryland for determining whether you need to flatten a veneer before you work with it in a vacuum press. You'll only need to do this trick once to learn when flattening is needed. After the first time, you'll be able to "eyeball" the veneer to see if flattening is needed. Ok already, here's the trick. Get a quarter from between the cushions on the couch and place it on the veneer. Move it around the veneer and look for gaps between the veneer and the coin. If any place on the veneer shows more than a quarter inch of gap under it, you'll need to flatten the veneer. Of course, this is just a rule of thumb. Some exceptionally brittle veneer will need to be flattened completely regardless of the gap.

Veneer Softeners 101
I've tried several types of so-called softening solutions. Here's what I've found:

Fabric softener - I know there will be a large handful of readers who will say that they have used fabric softener to make veneer pliable. I won't argue this. Those folks are right. It will make veneer pliable but it will also leave a residue that can catastrophically affect the bonding of the material to the substrate.

Water - Indeed water will have a small and short-lived effect on a veneer's flexibility but it's only ideal for lightly spritzing a slightly bubbled veneer just before placing it in a press. It will not soften and condition the wood cells which is critical to getting the veneer flat without splitting.

Homemade Softener - There's an age old recipe of consisting of 3 parts water, 2 parts yellow glue, 1 part vegetable glycerin, and 1 part denatured alcohol. This concoction will soften veneer but it's messy, hard to dry, and it will seal the wood cells which can have an effect on the wood's ability to accept a stain. Tip: If you opt to use homemade veneer softener and find that it causes the veneer to stick to the absorbent paper, place a piece of fiberglass cloth between the veneer and the paper. Fiber glass cloth can be found at your local hardware store near the adhesives aisle.

Super Soft 2 Veneer Softener - Despite its cheesy name, Super-Soft 2 (SS2) is by far, the most effective and user friendly veneer softener available. By temporarily plasticizing wood cells, veneers treated with Super-Soft become easy to flatten and unbelievably flexible. It also does not affect the stain absorbing properties of the veneer.

Ultimately, it's the water in this product that makes the veneer soft and pliable. There is also glycerin in the Super Soft which is extremely hygroscopic (it attracts moisture). The glycerin remains in the veneer even after it feels dry. It is this chemical remnant that keeps moisture in the veneer and allows the wood to remain soft for several days after the visible water content has evaporated. Check this out... if you get a drop of softener on your work bench and leave it there, the glycerine will retain the water content and it won't evaporate for several days!

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Application instructions:

1. Select up to 3 veneer sheets that require flattening.
2. Do not dilute SS2 softener.
3. Apply by dipping, spraying, or brushing (spraying is ideal). I prefer to spray the veneer until it begins to drip. Be sure to saturate both sides of the veneer.
4. Allow the veneers to stand until the surface is free of shiny, wet areas. Ten minutes is plenty.
5. Place absorbent paper between each veneer and the whole sandwich between two flat boards. Melamine boards work well for small to medium size veneers.
6. Apply plenty of weight to the top. With each extra pound of weight, you increase the success rate of the flattening process.
7. Allow this to sit overnight.
8. Replace absorbent sheets every 3-6 hours until veneer is completely dry. This can take several days. The number of paper changes depends on the thickness of the veneer and ambient temperature. Be aware that if you do not dry the veneer thoroughly, you increase the chance of warping and cracking the finished panel. 
9. The plasticizing effects of the softener will last from 4 to 7 days.

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Stubborn Veneers That Don't Want to Be Flattened

For stubborn veneers that just don't want to flatten out, you'll find a vacuum press very helpful. Apply softener to the sheets and place them in vacuum bag with two platens. Draw down the bag to at least 18" of Hg for an hour. This will get them flat enough to go into a lesser strength flattening device such as the method described above. Be sure to put paper towels between everything. From there, change the paper every 3-6 hours until the veneer is dry.

Super-Soft Speed Drying Trick based on an idea by Gene Young

After applying Super-Soft to the veneer, use a clothes iron set on medium heat to dry and flatten the veneer at the same time. It's best to put a cotton or flannel cloth between the veneer and the iron. Keep the iron moving continuously around on the veneer. When the veneer appears to be dry you can prep it for the veneer press. The effects of the softener are notably shorter with this trick so be certain to use the veneer as soon as possible. Otherwise it may ripple again. The alcohol content in the softener will produce a fair amount of vapor when the clothes iron is placed on it. This vapor may be harmful so be sure to do this in a well ventilated area. Follow-up Tip from Joe: I follow the instruction on the softener bottle and allow the veneer to settle between two weighted boards and absorbent paper first. A day later, I dry out the remaining softener with a clothes iron. This gives the best combination of flattening strength, speed, and durability.

Super-Soft 2™ Information Will the softener affect the ability of the veneer to take a stain? Unlike other softeners, SS2 will not affect the veneer's ability to accept a stain or dye. It does not contain PVA or other glue-like additives. Is the softener flammable? No. Unlike our competitors, we offer it in a chemical format that is not flammable. What is the shelf life of the softener? The shelf life is indefinite. It should last forever. How long will softening effect last? The softening effects vary from one species to another. Some users are finding the flexibility remains for as long as 2 weeks. Generally speaking, you can expect the effects to last from 4 to 7 days. Can you ship this stuff abroad? Yes. We are the only company currently shipping this new formula to Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii. Will Super-Soft 2 make the veneer sticky like homemade softener? Not at all. The veneer will feel soft and pliable not sticky and rigid. How much coverage will I get from a bottle of softener? There's no way to specify a coverage amount. It really depends on the veneer species, grain, moisture content, and method of application. Most folks find that a quart goes much further than expected. What happened to Super-Soft 1? We no longer offer the original formula because it wasn't suitable for use with "clothes iron curing" and the effects were not as strong as the newer version. How soft does it really make the veneer? I shot the picture at the right to give you an idea as to how well Super-Soft 2 works. This image shows madrone burl veneer rolled around a pencil. There are no cracks or splits. If I can roll a burl veneer this tight, you can probably imagine the possibilities with complex veneering projects! (Click the image to enlarge)