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The Official Website of this Non-Professional Woodworker ™ |
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Part 1
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Before a log is cut into veneer, it is often steamed or soaked in a bath of very hot water. This "cooking" process softens the log so that veneers can be sliced without tearing and splitting. After the veneer is sliced, it's pressed flat between heated platens and bundled into stacks in the same order that it was removed from the log. Veneer opens a whole new world of woodworking to even the most experienced craftsperson. With an exotic veneer, simple projects can be turned into works of art. In fact, a highly figured veneer can often be the qualifying characteristic that makes one project stand well above the rest. Veneer gives you a unique opportunity to work with some of the most beautiful and exotic woods in the world without having to dip into your retirement account. Wood veneer has several distinct advantages over solid lumber that can't be overlooked. It is these advantages that have brought the art of veneering into most professional cabinet and furniture shops. The good news is that with the right tools, veneering is relatively easy and it's now becoming a mainstream technique used by weekend warriors to turn even the most mundane projects into heirloom quality masterpieces. The True Beauty of Veneer Economy & Availability - Many wood species are so rare and valuable that in lumber form, are simply unaffordable. There's a marked scarcity of fine logs available world-wide. Couple this with the idea that there is an ever-increasing demand for fine wood and you have a formula for a log that is worth ten times what it was 5 years ago. By slicing a log into veneer, the square foot of "face" material is increased by over 4,000% and a new economy is created for these forest products. This increase in value is certainly not limited to straight grain wood. Figured wood is subjected to almost unimaginable increases in value and as these logs are sliced and exported, wood users are going to see prices rise, quality drop, and large sizes become extreme rare. Practicality - If you've ever seen a classic serpentine dresser, you probably understand the practicality of using veneer for curved work. But it's certainly not limited to fancy projects. Oak, cherry, walnut, and other hardwood plywood are more than just practical. They're often considered indispensable for many woodworking projects. Layup Options - You can create some of the most beautiful kaleidoscope designs with a keen eye and a few sheets of sequenced veneers. Learn more about cutting veneers and getting a perfect seam by clicking here.
A Bad Wrap, Literally Fortunately, this stigma has faded and veneering has become one of the top interests among woodworkers. This is largely due the costs and scarcity of exotic wood. However, there's no denying that veneering techniques have become much more mainstream. The processes which were once considered to belong to an exclusive group of craftsman, are now readily available on the Internet, at the library, and through woodworking classes. Veneer adhesives have improved by leaps and bounds too. By the late 70's, veneer adhesives had been nearly perfected. No earth-shattering improvements have been made since then but several tweaks have been introduced by companies such as Borden and Franklin to make these glues more affordable, durable, and easy to use. It's All In The Grain
More About Burls - Often considered the holy grail of fine woods, burls are the knobby wart-like growths that often grow on the lower parts of various trees. Some believe that the growth is caused by disease or damage to the tree during its early years. Every tree contains "dormant buds" which have all of the genetic information that a tree needs to grow a new tree. When the tree is damaged, many of these dormant buds are called to action and they create a chaotic grain pattern that effectively patches the damage. A burl is often just nature's way of making a band-aid. If you've ever tried to split a burl with a wedge, you know how strong the interlocking grain can be. Clearly, a stress induced burl is an effective means of patching... courtesy of Mother Nature. Burls veneers will show any one of three orientations in grain.
Types of Veneer Shop-Sawn Veneer - With a simple bandsaw set up, some woodworkers prefer to cut their own veneer. These veneers are often thicker than mill-sawn veneers which have as many advantages as they have drawbacks. See the chart below. Backed Veneers - Though not as widely available as raw wood veneer, these are usually available in large convenient sizes. Some backed veneers have foil, wood, or phenolic backing which are used for specialized applications (usually in industrial facilities) but the most common are those which are backed with paper. Paperbacked veneers are usually available in 10 and 20 mil thickness. This measurement is a reference to the thickness of the backing, not the wood face. In most professional shops, the 10 mil backed veneer is used on vertical applications and the 20 mil is used for horizontal projects. To apply a backed veneer, you can use a cold press veneer glue in a vacuum press for a very durable bond. Contact cement can also be used. Paperbacked veneers are typically available in 4' x 8' sheets and consist of several veneers matched side by side to make up the full width. Veneer Characteristics
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Welcome
In case you didn't know, wood veneer is a real wood! It is a thin slice of wood cut from a log with a slicing, peeling, or sawing machine. It is used on plywood, fine furniture, and laminated shapes for decorative and architectural purposes. 
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