Replies

1. 
   sapwood | Jul 16, 2010 11:28am | #1

   opinions vary, take all with a grain of salt

   In my opinion and experience: 3/32" is max. Others will say 1/8. In my experience is all depends on one's substrate. I've had thick veneer cup and pull the mdf substrate apart. The glue held, the veneer was fine (although cupped) but the substrate pulled apart. I'd use baltic birch as substrate for any veneer over 1/16".

2. 
   SantaFeTom | Jul 16, 2010 03:24pm | #2

   Veneer both sides

   I aim for around 1/8" before flattening and sanding. I usually try to veneer and finish the other side of the substrate too to keep the final piece in equilibrium. If my good side is an expensive wood, I will use something similar but cheaper for the bad side.

3. 
   JiminFla | Jul 16, 2010 04:10pm | #3

   Thanks everyone for your responses.  They are a lot of help.

   Jim

4. 
   bduffin104 | Jul 17, 2010 03:40am | #4

   It depends on several variables

   Jim,

   Jim,

   I'd say your success with veneering and the thickness you can use depends  on the width of the veneer pieces,  the area covered and the quality of the substrate. I like MDF for some things but  not  for use as a substrate for veneering as it is subject to a lot of movement..

   I have had success and longevity using high quality 3/4" plywood as a substrate for veneering parquet desk tops using veneer pieces as thick as1/4". I built a desk in this manner in 1980 in my shop near Seattle and the desk now lives in Texas and is holding up just fine.

   The attached photo is my own desk which is flat as can be after a year.

   I have had other experienced woodworkers comment that my method is doomed to failure so proceed at your own risk. I'm thinking thirty years might be an adequate test period to say they might be wrong.

   Best of luck, Bret

   
1. 
   JiminFla | Jul 17, 2010 12:41pm | #5

   Thanks for the reply, Bret.  A client asked me to make a copy of a table he had seen somewhere.  I checked into it and found a design gallery that sold it locally.  I went to take a look at it and found that it had a diamond pattern of thick cherry veneers on the top (see pictures).  The veneered top had been hand planed, so it was certainly thicker than a commercial veneer.  I would say that the cherry sections of the diamond pattern were about 4" wide.  As it turned out, the design was copyrighted and I told the client that I would not be able to make it for him.  By the way, the list price of the table was $23,000!

   Jim