2022 Veneer Workshop Report

On Saturday July 20th, the FWWA ran the second of our four-way book matched veneer workshops at Ian Houghton’s home.

He had six willing participants who learned how they should select the best veneers, mark each sheet and by using a mirror how to find the best effect.

How burl veneer tends to curl, and how to flatten it using a recipe of glycerine and methylated spirits.

What tools to use, how and why you need to “fettle” a new veneer saw to get the best result, then practice using them, together with the best ways to get a square edge on your veneer.

They all found out how to consistently cut stringing to the same width together with the different uses of masking and veneer tape.

We stopped for a chat and a bit of lunch, and then moved on to what sort of sub-base you should use and why, the benefits of fitting solid edges to doors and tops.

Ian showed us some practical examples and the benefits of this style of construction, on the beautiful furniture he has around his home and that is stored in his workshop.

He talked about the results you can expect with the different types of glues, and which will give you consistent results.

Ian also recommended a book that you should consider for more background and to develop different techniques.

Everyone then glued their work together with veneer on the reverse side and it was placed into the Vacuum bag and sealed.

I am sure all the participants would join me in thanking Ian and Raylene for their hospitality and providing an insight on how anyone with a bit of practice can produce perfectly matched veneer.

At the end of the day, they all took home their sample box top ready for finishing, and I am sure they would all be looking around at home, wondering where they were going to fit their new “Sunburst” table.