Chapter 1: Veneer
is stable and we attach it to stable substrates, it is not susceptible to warping, splitting, or even seasonal movement.
Easy to Work With Did I mention that it’s easy to carry? It’s not difficult to join two or more pieces. Repairs are simple and mostly undetectable once completed. If you use hot hide glue and hammer-veneer a panel, the process can be reversed. You can create amazing designs that, if done with solid wood, would fail or fall apart due to wood movement.
W H AT A B O U T THE CONS? So, is it all positive? One popular con regarding veneer is that it’s thin, so you have to take care when handling it. Since I don’t bang my lumber all over my shop—even solid timber gets damaged—I don’t see this as a negative. But, yes, if you handle veneer carefully, you won’t have to spend time repairing nicks and dings when you’ve finished your project. Other arguments against veneer are that it delaminates, the edges get easily damaged, blistering can occur, and, when cleaning, it’s easy to sand through. While these are issues, I believe they are more prone to mass-produced items and shoddy work. Proper techniques, good materials, and attention can put these deterrents to rest. The use of good substrates, proper adhesives, and care by the woodworker will ultimately lead to beautiful, stable, long-lasting furniture. Fine, 14
VENEERING ESSENTIALS
I’ll admit that repairs are easier with solid timbers on things like scratches, dents, and the dreaded drink rings. In the end, I think the benefits and the joy of working with veneer will far outweigh any negatives.
KEEP IT SIMPLE I hope by working through this book, you’ll discover for yourself how easy and wonderful a method of woodworking veneering truly is. And part of succeeding is to give yourself every opportunity to do good work. If you succeed early on, you’ll have the confidence and be encouraged to proceed further. With that in mind, we will keep things as simple as possible. There is a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that when translated reads, “In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.” When I first came out of school, I would create all sorts of difficult designs with difficult joinery. I’ve discovered over the years that wood is beautiful on its own. I like to keep things simple in both methods and designs. I hope that translates well into your understanding of veneering.
G I V E I T A S H OT The following chapters will give you what I think is all the information on tools and materials you need as well as good, fundemental techniques to create with this amazing
