Side Materials - Using Veneers

[Trapper John]

Well, here's my first technical question and I haven't found anything quite like it in the archives, so . . .

I am in the planning stage for a TD project - 5x10 Woody - and I want to have something other than a non-plywood grain to work with for my finished surfaces. There is a local outfit, Veridian Reclaimed Wood (see http://www.viridianwood.com/ ) that has the production facilities to press the veneer product to any substrate desired. The problem is, while they make that claim they pointed out to me that cracks and imperfections in the base surface will cause the veneer to be "drawn into" the flaw.

This became an issue when I asked if they could bond their veneer to either CDX or Marine grade plywood. They are primarily involved with creating panels, tables, etc. for an indoor environment and use MDF, which as we know is a TD "no-no." Being a newbie to this world of fabrication I need to ask if any of you have a point of view on the substrate with the highest quality surface that might be appropriate for the kind of application I have in mind.

I am sure that I am overlooking important details that will be needed for a reply, so fire away with your questions!

[Woodbutcher]

Since MDF is out what do they recommend? Both my Woody builds used regular indoor 1/4" cabinet grade plywood for the exterior. The first one completed in 2006 has epoxy covering the plywood. Still looks as good as the day I made it. You may ask if they can veneer on a quality birch panel over veneer core plywood. If so also ask if the back should also be veneered to keep the panel stable. Plywood should always have an odd number of plys. My experience with having custom veneer panels laid up is they prefer to work with MDF and it was very pricey. Plus can they lay up a one piece 5X10' sheet in any thickness. This could be a spectacular project or a disaster.

Good luck!

[Trapper John]

Since MDF is out what do they recommend? Both my Woody builds used regular indoor 1/4" cabinet grade plywood for the exterior. The first one completed in 2006 has epoxy covering the plywood. Still looks as good as the day I made it. You may ask if they can veneer on a quality birch panel over veneer core plywood. If so also ask if the back should also be veneered to keep the panel stable. Plywood should always have an odd number of plys. My experience with having custom veneer panels laid up is they prefer to work with MDF and it was very pricey. Plus can they lay up a one piece 5X10' sheet in any thickness. This could be a spectacular project or a disaster.

Good luck!

Thanks, Woodbutcher, for your candid input. Turns out the "Veneer People" are flummoxed by my project and don't want to touch it! So, that gives me the opportunity to step back and reassess before disaster strikes!

What I really want to avoid is the coarse-grained look of many standard plywood side panels. It may be that in my newbiness I am simply ignorant of other options and materials that will give me the look that I desire. I will try to locate photos of Woodies - including yours - that come close to depicting what I have in mind; the one I like best so far is of a unit that its builder is attempting to sell and I don't think it would be right to use it here.

I was thinking that a marine-grade substrate with a cabinet grade bonding surface would be doable - but I guess I was wrong. I did plan on encapsulating with epoxy, too. I will explore the cabinet grade interior sheets that you referred to. Question: Did you use 1/4" because of the weight and stiffness inherent in the epoxy coating?

[Woodbutcher]

Here is my first build. This one has 1" framing with 1" foam sandwiched between 1/4" plywood. Birch on the inside and Mahogany on the outside. The outer frame is Ash. Heavier but looks better. Covered with Epoxy, then Minwax Helmsman for UV protection.




This is my current build. I just put these pics on the computer last night. I will add them to my Build Journal (The Slowmobile) tonight. Same 1" frame with no insulation and 1/4" Mahogany on the outside. The outer frame is Soft maple. Lighter weight.



If you look at Mahogany, Cherry ,or walnut as your panels you will find the grain less busy, also more expensive. But much less then custom veneers would have been.

I did not see any real details of what you want to build. You may get more info if you let everyone know what you design is. Good luck, hope this helps.