I’m building a quartersawn white oak front door. 1 3/4″ thick.
I was considering a veneer for the showing edge of the door. I find the plain-sawn grain to stand out when next to the qswn and there are a few odd grain spots along the edge.
My woodworking partner thinks I’m mad. Neither of us has done ANY veneer work. (Though he is a skilled pro and I’m a careful, capable amature.) And, he figured if we need to tune the fit of the door, we’re going to be plaining the veneered edge.
Any advice on this? How hard is it going to be getting a tight veneer application along 80″ of door edge?
Replies
I was considering a veneer for the showing edge of the door. I find the plain-sawn grain to stand out when next to the qswn and there are a few odd grain spots along the edge.
Ya both mad! Veneer on a door..??? Inside OK... NOT outside..
Get some contrasting wood and route a groove ya can waterproof glue that strip of fine wood in!
Geez, good point! I didn't even think about the effect outdoor exposure would have on veneer.
If you use a truly waterproof glue to attach the veneer then it will not fail. It's just another board, simply thinner than most. Nevertheless, I wouldn't do this because of fitting now and someday in the future. The door will move a bit and you should be ready for that. Also, if you veneer the edge, then what's to prevent a knowledgable person from deducing the door is all veneer? I would assume you wouldn't want that to happen.
The usual veneer -- .025" thick or so -- is likely to get dinged in that position, and is a bad idea. However, you can easily achieve the effect you want with thicker oak. Use a strip of the QSWO which is perhaps 3/16" thick. It is thick enough that it can handle the knocks and dings at the edge of a door. However, it is thin enough that it will hide behind the door stop moulding, and most people will never notice it is there.
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