Greenie512

Raw veneer only comes in smallish pieces, now this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to veneer large cabinet. It’s just a very skilled and time consuming exercise which requires a lot of grain matching and taping pieces into on large sheet. You also usually have to deal with flattering the pieces etc etc.

Now in the States paper backed veneer is readily available in 8 x 4 ft sheets - lovely. I finally found a local supplier in Queensland so this will be my material of preference for veneering in the future.

I was initially worried about using contact adhesive - this is a one chance operation - get it wrong and serious stuff-ups occur!!!!

So, lots of planning - dummy runs and preparation and all will be fine - read on ....

Cabinet with contact adhesive applied to three sides, just tacking-off

And the panel of veneer drying off, notice centre line marks.

So, the technique is ....

1. Apply contact adhesive to both veneer back and cabinet as above
2. Wait until dry enough to touch by hand but slightly tacky!
3. Place cabinet face down on centerline. Small dowels help between the two originally while centring up - remove and make contact
4. Working one side only roll round-over (long edge) back and forth to make sure there is no air bubbles on corner.
5. Continue over onto side.
   
   With a small speaker like this one hand can hold the “opposite side” veneer flap while your other hand holds and rocks the cabinet on it’s edge.
    
6. Repeat for second side
7. Using a wooden roller (I used a heavy pipe) roll and roll and roll (get the idea) the panels to make sure there are no air pockets and you have 100% contact.

A laminate trimmer and straight flush bit make easy work of trimming excess veneer off.