Sticking veneer?

[Big_Nige]

I've got a small (350mm square) piece of ply that I want to veneer on both sides. The last time I did this I used PVA, the veneer buckled, and I ended up ironing it!

I think I read somewhere that you can use PVA as an iron-on, is this true? If not, what is the best way to glue it on, those iron-on sheets?

 

[Jasonb]

If using PVA you should apply it to the background not the veneer and press the veneer down firmly while the glue dries. I use a vacuum press for this but at the small size you have placing it between two flat boards (worktop offcuts are ideal) and applying pressure with lots of clamps or heavy weights will do.

I have tried the gluefilm but not had very good results, getting enough heat into larger areas is difficult, but it may be OK for your size. I have not tried the ironing of dried PVA but I know some people use that method.

Jason

 

[JonB]

I worked in a Door Factory for 20 years & can assure you that it is OK to iron on veneer with PVA. The repair dept. did this all the time using small irons something like 2" x1.5" Saying that I had a cabinet which had a crack down the side & I re veneered it about 2ft x 18" with PVA and an old domestic iron it is still on some 15 years later.
Hope this helps.
JonB

 

[Big_Nige]

I worked in a Door Factory for 20 years & can assure you that it is OK to iron on veneer with PVA ...

Can you tell me the method?

 

[JonB]

I just applied a thin coat of PVA to tha cabinet, placed the veneer & slowly ironed it on with the iron at its hotest.

 

[Big_Nige]

I just applied a thin coat of PVA to tha cabinet, placed the veneer & slowly ironed it on with the iron at its hotest.

With the PVA still wet?

 

[JonB]

Yes wet.

 

[Scrit]

For such a small piece you could also get away with using contact adhesive such as Bostik or Evostick. Apply to both surfaces, allow to go off (dry) for 10 minutes then position and roll down from one end to the other. Just make sure your veneer is a bit bigger than the substrate and that you have some way to pressure roll the veneer (such as a decorator's hard seam roller) and to trim the edges (e.g. sharp plane iron, low angle block plane, glass scraper, etc). I've used this technique for repairs where heat from an iron precluded its use - most notably white beech and unsteamed cherry will change colour if you overheat them

Scrit

 

[gcol]

I walnut veneered the dashboard in my old TR6 with Cascamite. Apply the Cascamite and veneer then clamp in place with a couple of pieces of ply. Worked a treat.