Veneering Techniques.

[Joe]

Non-waterproof PVA at least can be steamed or soaked away.

Just what that "Yellow Glue" in the video is I know not and there's PVA and PVA; some's water-proof, some cures in minutes, some in hours. The best way to find out is to have a play around.

It's also possible to get sheets of glue which you place between the veneer and cabinet and then apply the iron - like using Wonder-Web on material - and some veneers can be obtained with the same type of adhesive ready applied.

- Joe

[Retired]

Hi,

What a superb and informative video "How wood veneer is made" Lawrence; many thanks for adding it; I've just been enthralled as I watched it full length.

You mentioned using strap clamps Lawrence and we both agree these are very useful; for those unfamiliar with such straps I noticed the following video showing straps in use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xaU8uc5OJBA#!

The honeycombed former's being used are totally new to me and how useful they are being so easily adjusted to size of curve being laminated. I have a number of clamps similar to the two placed on top with the turned wooden handles but I don't like using them; I also have a number of the plastic quick acting clamps shown being applied and these are simply brilliant being one handed whilst applying lots of pressure. I bought a number of these plastic clamps a while ago whilst they were on sale at our local Aldi store; these are my favourite clamps and I have them in two sizes.

There are many brands of PVA glue Joe as you already know; Poundland sell PVA glue as do most craft outlets; PVA is available from just about every DIY or builders merchants; it is very cheap as seen here at Screwfix;

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-pva-5ltr/57248

David mentioned Titebond and I'm amazed just how many different adhesives Titebond manufacture; there appears to be an adhesive for just about any application and the one I'm interested in for veneering is;

http://www.titebond.com/product_selector...x?type=app&id=93680d8c-c396-455d-a6ea-88c5b7cfcc8a

I'll remove the clamps from the cabinet after dinner unsure as to what awaits me but fingers crossed all will be well allowing me to move the job towards finishing.

Kind regards, Col.

[Yorkie]

Non-waterproof PVA at least can be steamed or soaked away.

Just what that "Yellow Glue" in the video is I know not...
- Joe

It's 'Titebond' alphatic glue - 'Yeller' is its colloquial name, both here and 'across the pond'. I didn't know it could be softened with heat rather like hide glue.

[pwdrive]

I wonder when the manufacturers made these radio cabinets they laid the veneers on after, if so it doesn't sound like a very efficient way of production?
Maybe the veneer was the top laminate on some bog standard flat plywood, the pieces then cut out, steam bent or whatever to the required profile then trimmed and assembled?
Anyone know?

Lawrence.

[Retired]

Hi,

Good question Lawrence and I too would like to know the answer. Having attempted to apply veneer to this Barker cabinet I'm convinced cabinets like this were made around a "former" with the outer face veneer already added or added during forming then openings cut out later.

The holes/openings to the front panel gave me great trouble and I can't see any cabinet manufacturer going to the lengths I have done in order to simply apply the face veneer; they would quickly become bankrupt.

Even with perfect templates to mark out face veneer the veneers all behave differently even ones selected from the same log so this would also fail as the wetted veneer would be unpredictable.

It would however be very possible to assemble the cabinet then apply the face veneer as a full sheet; trim when dry then rout out the various openings and I'm sure this would work whilst being economical; I've not yet seen any video covering how such cabinets were manufactured in bulk and by now most of the people involved in such work will have passed away taking the information with them.

Kind regards, Col.

[pwdrive]

Hi Col, yes sometimes when we think of old stuff we think of hand crafted tradition, yet this was not always the case, take the humble Victorian pine door, traditionaly made by craftsmen...I don't think so, churned out by the million by machine more like.
I suspect it was the same for many radio cabinets.

Lawrence.

[pwdrive]

They had there own association, The British Radio Cabinet Makers Association, can't find out much about them though.

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

Great video on veneer making. Certainly needs a huge capital investment for all the machines.

Good thread

thanks Gary

[pwdrive]

Yes, any thing to do with converting logs takes large and expensive machinery, the largest group in the UK is BSW timber, there out turn capacity is very large to say the least for the the UK.

Lawrence.

[Joe]

Well b***** me with a fish-folk - it only flipping works!

   

The glue I used was Ever Build 501 Universal PVA Bond from PoundLand and the veneer is rock solidly stuck.

- Joe