Need help adding border to veneered mdf tabletop
So here’s the situation, I veneered this pattern on some 3/4 mdf (1st time veneering anything) and I want to add this nice cherry I have as a border, possibly a mitered border or anything really this is my 1st true attempt at fine furniture lol. I’ve built end tables, coffee tables, benches and all that stuff… But I want this to be perfect.
Cutting the individual pieces for the pattern was an experience lol, pretty sure I have carpal tunnel from holding the exacto knife so long.
My question is, should I miter the border? And how should I join the border to the mdf? What kind of support structure should I build under the table top? I don’t own a biscuit joiner but I’ve used a dremel router head attachment thingy with a small circular saw blade to cut my own biscuit slots before. Any and all suggestions would help.
I have around 10-12 of the pictured cherry boards, different lengths and the widths are close. I milled 1 side of each board and both ends on the CNC at work. Obviously I would trim the extra off of the borders when fully assembled.
And I would like to keep the border as wide as possible.
Replies
Well first of all, you did a fantastic job! Very impressive. I've only veneered straight matched pieces but always wanted to try something more challenging.
I would make the border solid stock between about 2-4 inches and not too much more but that is more my bias. Of course carefully work those miter joints carefully to fit. Also decide on a nice edge treatment and usually it is easier to shape after.
Note: You may want to make the molding slightly proud (higher) then the veneer to carefully plane flush.
I may be missing your intention but I am suggesting make this table top complete as a separate piece then construct a tradition night stand type table base out of cherry with the side aprons mortised and tenoned (or pocket screwed) to the legs.
Then the top gets attached....
Anyway my main comment is: NICE WORK esp for a first attempt!
From FWW Shaker Inspired Table
General idea but scaled to your top.
Thanks for the suggestions, I laid out the border around and my original intention was to keep the edging 8-9 inches wide, that looks terrible lol I’m definitely gonna keep it 2-3 inches for sure.
I was gonna use that 2 part epoxy to finish it but wow is that stuff expensive, it would literally cost more than all of my materials used so far. Is polyurethane ok to use with veneer on tables? My thought was it wouldn’t be durable enough.
I would suggest keeping your edged border as small as possible. The panel and border will expand and contract differently based on humidity. The larger the border, the more likely it will be that it will separate and/or the joints will open up. To connect your border to the panel you could run the panel and border through a slot bit on your router table and either spline the pieces together or insert biscuits.
Regarding the finish, consider using General Finish Seal A Cell followed by Arm R Seal. Both wipe on and are a terrific product. The Arm R Seal allows for a high build and should you need to fix a blemish down the road, simply do a light sanding and apply a thin finish with cheese cloth.
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