Roughcut is a great show! I really like to sit down and see the experts Tommy talks too and the interesting techniques used.

I was wondering in the show on veneering with Laura Fuoco there was mentioned about using watered down woodglue to make a veneer softener. The formula I've seen on the internet looks a heavier than what I saw on the show does anybody have the formula? Thanks Guys!!

El Commandante,

I've never done veneer work, so I can't provide any insight. I too will await a knowledgeable response. Be patient.. LOL.

I don't wanna be tellin' stories out of school, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts there wasn't a drop a glue in that bottle. I'd say glycerine and water. which flattens and softens veneer making it pliable/flexible. Glycerine, water , glue and alcohol will make stubborn buckled burls permanently flat but not flexible.

Flat and flexible 70% glycerine, 30% water, crotch mahogany 100% glycerine, the extra 30% closes up the cracks in the feather portion which is harder that the the outer area.

Flatten and store the veneer indefinitely, 50% glycerin, 30% water 15% PVA glue, 5% alcohol (stirred not shaken). Alcohol speeds up the evaporation process. Denatured alcohol, not Grey Goose or Stolies vodka, that's over kill

I've heard that minor imperfections can be handled with just water. Comments?

Paul
the little guy

Speaking of veneer, any good suppliers that anyone has dealt with close to WI, (not wanting to pay huge shipping) I am looking for some really good burl veneer, enough for approximately 15sq. ft. area which will be all drawer fronts. So a good grain match overall would be nice. And probably very expensive.

Hey Tommy, How about a road trip to a veneer mill? Would love to see that and of course learn much more about veneering.

This taken from an article in Q & A section of Fine Woodworking, I am pretty sure I can post this.


Mist veneer with homebrew solution
If the veneer is too wavy for an iron, I will spray the sheet with a mixture of water, alcohol, and glycerin, sometimes called a veneer bath. My bath is about 6 parts water, 3 parts alcohol, and 1 part glycerin. The solution will soften the veneer and keep it flexible during glue up. A common spray bottle is the right delivery tool. All it takes is a light misting on both sides to soften the veneer just before glue up.
Dealing with stubborn veneers
If the veneer is excessively wavy you will need to thoroughly soak each sheet in a veneer bath and then press the veneer between two boards until dry. For this case, Tage Frid formulated a classic recipe similar to mine above: 3 parts water, 2 parts plastic-resin glue, 1-1/2 parts glycerin, 1 part alcohol, and 1 part flour.
After the veneer has soaked in the solution for about 30 minutes, press each sheet individually between two sheets of plywood with about 10 lb. of weight applied. Also place ample layers of newspaper on each side of the veneer to absorb the water. The soy-ink print on modern newspapers may transfer to the veneer, so I like to use plain newsprint where it touches the veneer.
As the solution dries, you will have to change the paper two or three times to allow the water to slowly evaporate out of pressed veneer sheets.
Once flat and dry, the sheets should be kept between boards or heavy cardboard weighted with bricks until used. In fact, I use this storage setup for all my veneers.
Quick Tip: The cheapest place to buy glycerin is a feed store as it is given to rumen animals with colic. You can also buy it at a health-food store, but you will pay more for the same thing.

You should check out Ben Barrett at Berkshire veneers. http://www.berkshireveneer.com

He's a great guy, has good prices and really knows his stuff.

http://www.theveneerstore.com/ps-500-31 ... gured.aspx


http://www.theveneerstore.com/p-516-euc ... gured.aspx


http://www.theveneerstore.com/ps-525-87 ... t-cut.aspx

this guy must have some great suppliers.....

Thanks NY and Wood.

Ritz,

You are most welcome. Good luck.

even more than minor, I'll try to find a piece of ribbon mahog
that a friend used (I got a sheet from the flitch) and post a photo.
Our instructor showed us how to flatten it with the vacuum press
just spraying tap water on the sheets.

Yes...But you have to immediately use the veneer or it will return to its buckled state. Hence the addition PVA glue to permanently flatten the veneer.

it stayed flat for the whole time it took my friend to cut the sheets (by hand)
about one or two weeks (the pieces were assembled on a "stretched caul"
so no need to worry about them potato-chiping again.

Mixing for Quart quanity....

1/2 Water 1/2 Alcohol 2 Tbsp of Hide Glue 2 caps full of Glycerin.

Works every time.

What kind of Glyserine do you use? And where do you get it?

I just looked on Amazon and found 1857 results for "Glyserin" which I then down to only 1016 when I further narrowed the search to "Pure Glyserine"

I'm rather a newby when it comes to working with veneers.

100% pure

http://www.veneersystems.com/index.php/ ... ory/id/11/

or

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1305

"Glycerine" will get ya 6 million hits.

I am going to guess that the glycerine you can get at a feed store is not 100% pure?

What's a feed store?

Another source ... pricey for softener but they have a myriad of other adhesives and specialty products for wood and veneer.

http://www.cpadhesives.com/woodworking-adhesives.

www.veneersupplies.com

Joe and his wife run a mom and pop operation in all things veneer. They carry a softener that is supposed to be excellent, plus a wide variety of veneers and anything else you'd need to do veneering or marquetry. He's also quite knowledgeable about the craft and is willing to answer questions quickly and without bias.

Paul
the little guy

Thanks for the reminder Tiny, have that one bookmarked and obviously forgotten, ahhhhhhhhhhh yes good CRS

How are you and the misses doing Tiny?

While your at it bookmark this... http://www.nationalcasein.com/products.asp

then read this

http://www.cpadhesives.com/adhesive-con ... g-services

then you'll better understand the "Better bond" glue mystery.

Thanks NY

Hi Ritz.

Glad to be able to remind you. As for the missus and I, we're muddling through more or less. Her toe is gone now, and the stump is healing up nicely, if a little slowly due to the diabetes. Thanks for asking.

Paul
the little guy

Feed store == Co-op or similar farm-and-home store where you can buy animal feed in bulk.

The stuff sold as an additive to animal feed is probably fine for use as a softener ingredient.

You can buy also high purity glycerin in small quantities at pharmacies in the USA. I'm quite certain I've even seen it at either the pharmacy in Wal-Mart or Target.