veneer on solid wood

You could if the grains of both pieces were aligned. I would think they would both expand.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I dont think this is a stupid question at all. Veneer has been used since the pharos and i believe that all that they had was hard wood sobstreight. Also I do alot of reclaiming of old furnature that has veneer on hard wood. Im not sure but I believe with a hardwood substreight you would have to attach the veneer with the grain and not against the grain.(if im explaining myself properly)

-- bryano

Sure you can, they’ve been doing it since veneer was invented (No plywood back then :) )

Actually, here’s a tip for everyone. If you are building a piece out of…say…Walnut for example. Build the project out of straight grained plain old walnut, but veneer crotch or burl on to the faces, and do the tiniest micro-bevel at the venner seem. It looks fantastic, and you turn 3.00/BF lumber into something special.

Have fun!

Ryan

-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com

Thanks for the tip Ryan. You gave me a good idea for some of that veneer that I found a few months back.

-- bryano

many times I bookmatch veneer slice a special piece of quartersawn white oak and then use it to veneer over quartersawn white oak that has little or no figure.

veneer I make this way is over 1/8 and upto 1/2 of an inch thick, so it really isn’t veneer so-to-speak. it just allows me to balance grain patterns better and make a more visually appealling project.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Yes make the grain go the same way.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Here’s a question for those of you who have done this before. Do you still have to follow the practice of veneering both sides the way you do with a manufactured (ply or MDF) substrate to avoid warping the panel?

-- Dublin, OH

Corey – I never worried about it. I have dresser with bookmatched walnut veneer on the face of the walnut drawers and it has held fine with no distortion for 20 years

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Haven’t had any trouble with a single face of QS white oak over less figured white oak, but this is with fat (.125 -.1875˝) shop made “veneer”.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Not much I can add. Listen to these guys.

-- Thos. Angle

David Marks always does both sides.

I’ve looked at quite a few antiques and one side has worked fine over solid wood, but safe better than sorry makes sense.

-- http://www.riverviewwoodworking.com

If you don’t veneer the back side, at least be sure to finish it. I have some otherwise nice creations of my father’s that warped because the back side wasn’t finished.

I make it a practice to always veneer both sides.

-- Earle Wright, Lenoir City, Tennessee

The veneer you put on the back side does not have to be anything special, unless it will show.

-- .

Veneering both sides is mandatory if one wants to have a piece endure for a long time. Try veneering a board on one side and let it sit for a month.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

just my 2 cents but you should always veneer both sides of a substrate. You need something on the back side to help equalize and balance what you do on the front otherwise you run the risk of warping, cupping etc. It is why plywood is always in odd layers. Keep in mind that manufactured board (mdf, plywood, and particle board) are all more stable then solid wood to begin with and you would do it there so I would think the same follows suit when solid wood is your substrate. I happen to work for a higher end commercial wood furniture company for my day job and we work exclusively with veneers.we always balance the back with either veneer or gator ply (when it is not visible).

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

If you want to learn about veneering boxes, check out Andrew Crawford. This guy is the best at veneering boxes.

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.