Chemetal/ Treefrog Veneer

[john_hartman]

Has anyone use either of these products? I have a curved project which I will be using one of the two on. I'm not to worried about glueing it down, but more the cutting, trimming and how to deal with wrapping it around 90 degree corners. Many of the styles are not flat, but have a lot of texture. This can only complicate things. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[bleeth]

I have used a lot of both Chemetal and Tree Frog eneer.The veneer is like any other and rather than wrapping it around a square corner you cut and route the edges. The paper back will make a tighter radius than the phenolic. Phenolic is applied with regular contact cement but I use veneer adhesives for their paper backed as all paper backs.

The same is true of the Chemetal. Normal carbide tools work fine on it in general but dull quickly. The aluminums and coppers work pretty much the same. Some of their metals are available with no phenolic backing and if so you could likely make a square corner with a metal break but usually they are also cut and trimmed to the edge. I have laminated them to curves but I try to stay away from tight radius for larger pieces. Counter edgebanding is pretty easy down to 3" radius. From 1 to 2 inch it is more challenging but worked the couple of times I needed to. Adhesive is regular contact cement.