Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Don Stephan
A retired fellow this week gave me several boxes of pieces of veneer, the longest about 42" but most shorter. His grandfather had done marquetry as a hobby, and then his father, so much of the veneer is thicker than what is usual today. I can't use the thicker veneer, one piece I think measured about .035" thick and a few about .06" thick. Are there marquetry people who still work with and want thicker veneer?
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
John K Jordan
Thick veneers are still widely used for gluing up blanks for woodturning. I have several turned (sorry, no pictures).
I resaw thick veneer on purpose for such use. This example I posted before:
The walnut layer is about .06"
Figured veneers would be wasted in this application but contrasting colors are valued.
JKJ
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Ralph Lipeles
I bought veneer at Albert Constantines about 65 years ago to veneer 2 dressers that I mad for a room that my brother and I shared. The believe that the veneer was 1/32 thick.
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Don Stephan
Included in the boxes of veneer pieces was a small one with labelled sample veneers from Constantine. John K made a good observation - veneer 1/32 and 1/16 thick could be used to make decorative pen blanks and bowl blanks. Still wondering if any marqueters use thicker veneer.
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
William Duffield
Have you noticed the banner on just about every forum page for the Society of American Furniture Makers (SAPFM)? It has well over a thousand members, and a large number of them build reproduction furniture in Federal Period styles. These furniture pieces make heavy use of veneers that are often resawn from solid wood up to 1/8" thick.
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Ellis Walentine
Back in the 70s when I started woodworking as a business, standard veneers were 1/28" thick (.035"). I recall being able to get 1/16" material as well, particularly mahogany and poplar. At some point, manufacturers improved their ability to slice thinner veneers, thereby increasing their yield. Today I believe the standard is 1/40" or thereabouts, but you can still get veneers in various thicknesses. Thicker veneers have the advantage of being able to take more sanding without the danger of sanding through.
Ellis
Must be...
John in NM
Certainly Wood still sells 1/16" veneer, so there must be demand for it. Personally I've only used it for gluing up curved pieces, that may be the only common application for all I know about the subject.
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Ralph Lipeles
I still have the box of veneer samples that I bought at Constantines about 65 years ago. There were 50 labeled samples about 4" by 8"
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Ralph Lipeles
I recall that some veneers, like mahogony, sliced nicely and were available in large pieces. I believe that the mahogony that I bought was about 10" wide by 10' long. Some woods do not slice well and have to be sawed. These veneers are thicker.
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Johanna Johanson
The thicker veneers are wonderful for marquetry. They do not buckle as easily nor do they crumble. Much easier to use.
Re: Older Thicker Veneer Still Used?
Jesse Cloud
Thick veneer is a boon to those of us who make laminations. If the sides don't show you can even use cheaper woods for the middle layers and save the expensive stuff for the show sides. Saves a lot of time, labor, and dust which often justifies the cost for me.