cutting veneer

[cowboy1296]

I have been sticking to solid wood to make my signs and plaques. but you have to pick through rough cut a bunch to find a suitable piece. I checked into perfect planks and the shipping costs makes it a problem.

Now if I use veneer to cut in door plaques, what problems will I have. Typically I like to use a round over bit on edges or at least a 60 degree v-bit to taper the edges. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[bleeth]

If you veneer to solid wood then your veneer will want to expand and contract at a different rate than your substrate. To avoid this you need to make sure it is applied with the right adhesive (never contact cement), balanced with veneer on the back, and completely sealed on all sides (topcoat)when you are done. I would use a wood on wood (2 Ply) veneer rather than paper, fleece, or phenolic back. A small roundover is fine as is a chamfer or Ogee. A larger roundover will show too much of the surface and glueline. For your letter carving make sure your bit is SHARP. If you are doing 3-d relief in the plaque somewhere then cut a shallow pocket through the veneer first and then your relief.
DAP/Weldwood resin glue (powder you mix with water) is OK and Wilsonart 3100 (PVA straight out of the can) is good as well. Use a press or vacuum bag for your veneering.
For plaques larger than 4 or 5 inches high I would lay up the blanks with narrower pieces as well to avoid cupping. This is extra work but will prevent cupping.

[cowboy1296]

pardon my ignorance and i have a lot of that. i did not want to build the board but buy veneer in 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness in 4 x 8 sheets. not even sure you can route this type of board. right now the plaques that i am looking to cut are 15 inches tall, so a little on the big side for a plaque.

[cowboy1296]

i may be making a mistake with my wording. what i am talking about is a plywood laminated with a hardwood: such as ash, birch, walnut etc

[bleeth]

Premanufactured plywood with a hardwood veneer face is a different story!!

Obviously you will have the edges of the plaques looking like a plywood edge unless they are sanded and finished opaque. Most readily available hardwood plywood (Big Orange and Big Blue carry a couple varieties-cabinet supply houses usually carry more and better quality) edges would need some filling before finishing to get it truly smooth. Paste filler is fine. Also you will see the veneer layers in the plywood where you cut unless it was painted as well. Not too expensive to just buy a sheet and try it out.
At worst you will have some more samples! ("Samples, Samples, Samples" credit to Professor Joe Crumley!)

Most common method is to do your clearcoating on your blank, carve it, paint your carving, sand the top to get rid of paint that isn't in the right spot, and then topcoat all. You can also do your color with a stain and then just wipe it off the prefinished surface. You probably already do one of these with your solid wood blanks.

[cowboy1296]

perhaps i was referring to mdf and did not know it. i found a big supply of alder at the local hardware store that is about 45% off. i am thinking of trying a piece.

with the solid wood: i plane, plane, plane, route, paint the vectors, sand off excess paint, depending on the wood sometimes i wipe it down with linseed oil and then poly on top. i am still a rookie but some of the stuff turns out good. i really like black walnut, but it is not accessible in my area and shipping is out of sight.

this was made of Colorado willow. in my opinion is a soft/hardwood. wiped it with the oil and then did the poly.

thanks for the response and i am still learning a lot.

[burchbot]

Hi Rick
I v carve curly maple veneer on mdf all the time. I apply the veneer myself. The black mdf is Great Lakes, but you can’t get it anymore. The brown is just standard mdf. Clear coated, no paint or stain. This wouldn’t be any good outside.
Dan

[cowboy1296]

Thanks i am going to get a sheet of the alder. Its less then 50 a sheet so hopefully i cant go to wrong with it.

Man you are confusing people with those two pictures side by side. Its like night and day on the same wall.

Thanks for the info

[burchbot]

Hi Rick
Just think if those pictures would have came to life. The whole house would have been filled with mdf dust a veneer chips.
Dan

[blackhawk]

Rick - I have not yet bought anything from this site, but they sent me a price list and the prices are not bad. They have a large selection of wooden blanks and plaques.

http://www.studioworkshop.com/