Veneering to a Bendable Substrate

Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article





	Today's Sponsors: Biewer Lumber Binks Black Bros. Co. Blackhawk Machinery Brown Wood Products Co. Byrd Tool C.R. Onsrud Cab Parts Cabinet Door Service Co. Cabinet Pro CabinetCRUNCHER Cutlist & 3D Cabinet Design Software Cabinetmakers Association CABPARTSPRO CADCode Cag Lumber Camco, Inc. Carbide.com Carolina Woodworking Consultants Carter Products Carvewright Carving Technologies Cash Coatings Castle Catskill Timber Industries Central Hardwoods Charles G.G. Schmidt Co. Chicago Dowel Company, Inc. CIM-Tech Clear Lake Lumber CNC Auto-Motion CNC Parts Dept. 3M Corporation 5 Star Tooling A Brazilian Wood Depot Abrasive Resource Accu-Right Squareness Gauge Accu-Router, Inc. AceCo Precision Wood Tooling Activa Active Machine & Tool Air Cleaning Systems Air Handling Systems Alan McIlvain Company Algoma Lumber Co. All Star Adhesives Alliance Millsoft Allied Machinery Inc. AllRout Amana Tool Ameitech South American Fabric Filter Co. American Institute of Building Design American National Woodworking Knife American Rotary Converters Andreou Machinery ANEST IWATA USA, Inc. Antique Beams and Boards Antique Building Materials Anver Corporation Apollo Sprayers Inc. Arbor Processing Inc. Architectural Elements ArtCam ATEMAG Atlantic Machinery Corp. Auton Motorized Systems AWFS B.H. Davis Company Bailey's Inc. Bainbridge Manufacturing Baker Products Banks Hardwoods Barn Detail Barn Door Lumber BC Wood Specialties Group BeamsRUS Beaver Tools Benz Incorporated Best Cabinets BetterVacuumcups.com Biesse Group America

WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?

Veneering to a Bendable Substrate

Tips on getting a smooth, curved veneer face. October 2, 2006

Question
I would like to know, from anyone who has experience with these, how well Timber Flex or Kerfkore would work for the following application. We need to press veneer (no contact adhesive) to a bendable material and then apply to curved faces of a reception desk. Of all the different radiuses that we need to bend to, the smallest is 20cm (7-7/8"). The veneer will be highly figured Sapele with the grain running opposite to the curve. Quality is more important than price. I am concerned that with the Kerfkore, the kerfs may telegraph through to the face. I need to know how well each of these will bend around the required radiuses without distortion. Or, is there is another material that you recommend?

Forum Responses
(Architectural Woodworking Forum)
From contributor A:
You would be better off using Lauan rather than 1/8 poplar to smooth out the surface. Kerf can telegraph more with high gloss finish. Here's a trick you might want to try. After the back structure is ready, put Titebond 1 on the back and on the veneer back with a roller. Let both dry � this is very important. Then, iron the veneer on. This works like a charm.

From contributor B:
If you are using Kerfkore and a paperback veneer it will telegraph through. I just did something similar and to avoid that same issue, I resawed poplar really thin -1/16"- then used contact adhesive to glue it to the Kerfkore while it was flat. Then I ran it through a drum sander to smooth it out and make it thinner. I then applied that to my curved cabinet and then applied the paperback veneer. It came out nice with no telegraphing.

From contributor C:
Timberflex already has the 1/8 poplar face, but Timberflex can only be laminated/veneered after its bent to the required radius.

From contributor D:
Try FlexBoard, it is made by the same guys. It is a through-kerfed PB core with a high density fiberboard 1/8" overlay. So there is no telegraphing and you can veneer it flat with semi-flexible glues, such as PVA or a modified urea for hot pressing. Then take the panel and wrap your desk using band clamps, and if you want, another sheet of Flexboard used as a caul to help distribute some of the band clamp pressure.

From the original questioner:
I have decided to do it in sections on our vacuum table, with no kerfed material. Thanks for your suggestions.

Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?

KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

KnowledgeBase: Veneer

KnowledgeBase: Veneer: Techniques

Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to review our Forum Guidelines.

Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

Return to beginning of article.

Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy

Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

WOODWEB, Inc.
RR4 Box 265A
Montrose, PA 18801

Contact WOODWEB