Show off your veneer!!

[pypes]

I was going to ask for pictures of finished veneers in the main forum but thought a gallery of it might prove useful.

I'm getting closer to finishing my first cabinets and although I wasn't originally planning to veneer them my plans changed, and I need to pick a veneer. I've been looking at veneers online and while the pictures are often impressive, I know they don't look exactly how they do when finished and on a project.

I've seen many nice projects and woodworking displayed in build threads here; I have also seen many requests for finishing ideas / help / how-tos. So, let's start a gallery of veneers!

If you're willing to, and believe, as I do, that this thread will be helpful to someone (maybe even yourself on your next project!) please post pictures of your finished, veneered cabinets (or any other veneer application!) and tell us what the species is, veneer type, and method of finishing.

Thanks in advance and enjoy the beautiful pictures!

[nikbrewer]

Ill go first

Figured Walnut paper backed veneer with satic clear

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0590.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0589.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0593.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0591.jpg

preveneered lyptus mdf with a medium red/brown stain and satin clear

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0685.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0686.jpg

Cherry paper back with cherry stain and satin clear

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0710.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0709.jpg

Walnut paperbacked with a wax/oil finish

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0729.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0730.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0726.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0724.jpg

Maple paperbacked with a white pickled stain and gloss clear

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0781.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0782.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0783.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0766.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0767.jpg

Maple paper backed, satin clear, no stain

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0784.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0785.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_0787.jpg

Cherry paperbacked with automotive high gloss clear, no stain

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1173.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1155.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1169.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1171.jpg

Ash and cherry paperbacked veneer w/ cherry hardwood edges with high gloss clear

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1146.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1147.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1152.jpg

Waterfall bubinga on sides and front, Ash on baffle, plain sliced bubinga on back with a oil finish

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1161.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1162.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1163.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1164.jpg

Plain sliced bubinga w/ bubinga hardwood baffle with semi gloss finish

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1220.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1221.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1222.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1224.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1223.jpg

paperbacked zebra wood veneer with satin clear

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1227.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1228.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1240.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1239.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1255.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x99/nikbrewer/IMG_1260.jpg

thats it for now

[pypes]

Thanks for starting it off nik, and thanks for an awesome contribution!

Leon

[r-carpenter]

macasara ebony, birds eye maple and mahogany, Carpathian elm burl
all clear nitrocellulose lacquer

[nikbrewer]

im in love with the elm and ebony. Where they paperbacked?

[r-carpenter]

no,sorry, only raw veneer here. You can get both paper-backed but I prefer to size leaves myself

[xavier]

r-carpenter,

Do you preapply the veneers before assembling the boxes? I've heard that that is the only way to do raw veneers.

[r-carpenter]

Most of the time panels get veneered and then cut to size. I usually do lay out veneer, figure out what goes where and glue it. I use vacuum press and it's just easier this way. You are not limited to this technique. If your speaker cabinet is sturdy enough, it can go inside the press as well (and if you took all necessary steps and the bag can handle it).
If the veneer that you are going to use is larger then the cabinet, then you can use "iron on" method and have good results.
The complicated part is to straight line raw veneer and join the leaves in one field. I use to have 10 ft jig to do so, then I did it on the jointer, now I have a 12ft veneer saw. Then of cause comes joining the leaves. Perforated tape works great, edge gluing is complicated, stitchers are expensive. Jointed, stiched face cannot be glued with the iron. It has to go in the press.
That's the short story for raw veneer. :)

But....the choices are wider, your own exegetical input(in turms of veneer layout and final appearance) becomes a part of a process.

btw, Nick, very nice work. Can't go wrong with Zebra or Figured Walnut.

[mgrabow]

im in love with the elm and ebony. Where they paperbacked?


all nice and flat. what is your preferred method and what lessons have you learned...?

[nikbrewer]

Things I have learned

1: I only use paper backed venner, as its easy to workwith, comes in 4' x 8' sheets, and is easyto apply
2: I only use water based contact glue. Solvent based can be affected by solvent based finishes. I also learned that the DAP non flammable glue is identical to the 3M glue I have been using, but cost 1/2 the price and I can buy it local
3: If you are going to wrap around a radius, know your veneer species. I cna get walnut, cherry, zebra wood to wrap a 1/2" radius, i bet i could get walnut to do 1/4". More open grained woods such as oak, ash start to crap and open up on radius less then 3/4"
4: Invest in one of those flush trim bits that can fit in 1/8" deep recesses. this is the easies way to trim out the driver recesses.

[andykriech]

Here are a few I have used:

Encores in curly maple PSA paperbaked clear gloss poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20Encores%20-%202009/11Applyingwipe-onpoly.jpg
LouCs C-Killas in quarter sawn red oak PSA paperbacked clear gloss poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20LouCs%20C-Killas%20-%202010/12Firstcoatsoffinishappliedtobox.jpg
LouCs Cryolites in paperbacked ribbon stripped mahogony with satin poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20LouCs%20Cryolites%20-%202007/05aFinishedboxes.jpg
LouCs Nuggett2s in flat cut cherry NBL with satin poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20LouCs%20Nugget2s%20-%202006/Nugget2sfrontview.jpg
LouCs Shticks with flat cut red birch PSA paperbacked satin poly (in person, much better looking):
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20LouCs%20Shticks%20-%202008/11Basesaddedspeakerscomplete.jpg
RJBs Cerberus sub in ribbon stripped sapelle with clear gloss poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20RJBs%20Cerberus%20Sub%20-%202008/HPIM3428.jpg
RJBs Microbes in ribbon stripped sapelle with clear gloss poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20RJBs%20Microbes%20-%202009/20Finished3.jpg
TB 740C sub in flat cut cherry NBL with satin poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20TB%20740C%20Subwoofer%201%20-%202006/Finishedsubwithgrill.jpg
Another TB 740C sub in flat cut cherry NBL with satin poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20TB%20740C%20Subwoofer%202%20-%202008/HPIM2533.jpg
Zaphs single driver in flat cut red birch with satin poly:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p104/akriech/DIY%20Speakers%20-%20Zaphs%20Single%20Driver%20-%202008/11Finished.jpg

[robwest]

Things I have learned:

4: Invest in one of those flush trim bits that can fit in 1/8" deep recesses. this is the easies way to trim out the driver recesses.

Can you give a little more info on this? I'm not clear what you mean...

Beautiful work Andy!

:)

[nikbrewer]

well

here is a pic

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2008024/6590/14-CL--14-SH--2-OL---Flush-Trim-Double-End-Bit--Whiteside-SC28A.aspx

its the middle one, it has just a solid bearing, but its less then 1/8" thick so you can easily route driver recesses

[robwest]

I've owned several different shapes of those for over 10 years and never could guess what they were for. I've never seen one used~and wouldn't know how or where. Now you've got me curious...maybe I'll just stick 'em up against some wood and see what happens! ;)

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

i am very envious. you guys do amazing work. this thread is giving me courage. thanks.

[captainobvious99]

rcarpenter- VERY nice work :eek:

and Brooklyn, too....hmmm, a manageable drive from Philadelphia. Looks like I know where Im taking important projects to be veneered :D

[badman]

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/pothaudio/Bofu/P1010049.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/pothaudio/Bofu/img_1932.jpg

Not bad for a first try at veneering and working with raw veneer.

[xavier]

badman, you're an inspiration. I'm terrified of doing veneers. And with raw veneer no less!

[badman]

badman, you're an inspiration. I'm terrified of doing veneers. And with raw veneer no less!

Aww shucks....

Hopefully some of the rough spots in this job will be absent in my next job... it's a biggie.