Replies

1. 
   mcecala | Dec 16, 2009 09:52pm | #1

   What type of problems? I will go over a couple, let me know if it's something else.

   Burl is bumpy; Sometimes you can keep the veneer flat while cutting. When you try to assemble, the wavy surface will never line up. Flatten with home made or prepared flattening solution.

   Seams don't line up; The best way to do a 4 way match is to cut everything 1 degree bigger, (46 degrees) Join 2 pieces to make a half circle, then the other 2. Now use a straightedge to dress the half circles by cutting the outside edge a bit and not cutting the center points. If the angles are not sized correctly, the match will form a cone and not lay flat.

2. 
   tom77 | Dec 17, 2009 10:09am | #2

   The previous comment about flattening is important. After flattening, the next step is to create straight edges at 90 degrees. For a 4 way bookmatch, I stack the 4 sheets in exact registration, trim the two seam edges straight and at 90 degrees. Next, I shoot the edges to get them dead straight and square. With straight grain veneer, I use a plane. With burl, I use a "sanding plane". A sanding plane is a block of mdf, approximately 2" by 2" by 15", with one surface covered by adhesive backed sandpaper. I use 80 g, but 120 g might be better. Use this sanding plane to shoot the edge of the stack of veneer. It doesn't take very long to get a good square and straight edge on the stack. BTW, the stack should be clamped tightly when shooting. Now repeat on the other edge. You can now tape up two pairs. I use blue tape and put a little tension in it when applying the tape. Next, bring the two assembled pairs together to form the final assembly. You can sometimes shoot these edges also, if the panels are small enough to fit in your shooting jig.

   Good luck, Tom.

1. 
   Kretzer | Dec 18, 2009 05:18pm | #3

   thanks guys......I did try flattening with a steam iron and then clamping over night.....but was not dead flat...will the solution approach provide better results?

1. 
   DonStephan | Dec 18, 2009 09:39pm | #4

   Flattening solution should yield perfectly flat veneer, but it can take 2-3 days or more to fully dry.