I’ve always used my own resawn veneers before and I have no experience with paper-backed veneers. From your persoanal experience, what are the pro’s and con’s of the paper-backed. Suggestions on references would also be helpful.
Thanks for your advice.
Doug
Replies
Paper backed veneers are fast. Obviously one doesn't have to do and joint matching with these since they come in sheets already. They are like plywood without the insides.... you supply your own. They veneer is usually thin, however. I think they are great for doing general cabinetry or for the areas of high grade cabinets that don't receive as much scrutiny as the exposed visible areas.
I'm not ashamed to use them, but I think flitch veneer offers a higher degree of utility, visual appeal, and craft.
You can play pattern games with unbacked veneer. For instance, you can decide to do book matching, or you can decide to do slip matching, or you can do z-fold matching. With backed veneer, you get whatever the manufacturer decided.
Generally paper-backed is available in only the seven standard cabinet woods, and generally only in non-curly grain. With unbacked veneer, you have a larger choice in species and in grain type. Me, if I'm going to take the trouble to do veneering, I like to use flashy curly stuff, and that's rarely available in backed veneer.
If the edge of your veneer is going to be showing, the paper is a visible line.
Paper-backed veneer is oddly expensive. I can generally buy 1/8" or 1/4" plywood for substantially less than a sheet of paper-backed of the same size.
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