Removing Veneer

12/8/2008 8:15:04 AMjim

Seasons Greetings, I need about a 6 inch square piece of veneer to patch top of old Airline console. Yeah, I know Lowes sells it but my closest Lowes store is 35 miles East of me. Heard u could just soak wood in water and it peel off. Hot water? Anything to add to water? Or other methods? Advice greatly appreciated.

12/8/2008 1:54:23 PMMarv Nuce

Jim,
If memory serves me right, the old timers used "Hide Glue" to attach veneers, and its been suggested that steam (read iron) will soften the glue. I've never tried it, and always used extreme caution and a sharp knife.

marv

:Seasons Greetings, I need about a 6 inch square piece of veneer to patch top of old Airline console. Yeah, I know Lowes sells it but my closest Lowes store is 35 miles East of me. Heard u could just soak wood in water and it peel off. Hot water? Anything to add to water? Or other methods? Advice greatly appreciated.

12/8/2008 8:08:55 PMBob E.

I learned a technique from Bret's Old Radios DVD.
You do use a regular clothes iron. I use some newspaper between the iron and the veneer of another junk radio
or other source of veneer that you can rob from. I use
a thin 3 inch bladed putty knife and gradually, slowly run the knife under the veneer as you heat it with the iron and it releases. Just go slowly so as not to break off a smaller piece than you need. Works great for me.
Bob E.

12/8/2008 9:01:35 PMjim

Thanks fellows. I'll try that tomorrow if I can borrow the iron. lol. I once tried just letting thepieces lay out and be rained on but that did not work at all.

12/8/2008 8:58:38 PMTerry F

Jim,

If you have a Rockler.com store by you, they sell small pieces of veneer. Check their website, too.

Try also any hardwood store as they usually carry veneer products or have easy access to them.

I used, with good success, a steamer that I had for cleaning metal parts. It is a SHARK brand, carries about 2 cups of water and makes a terrific veneer remover.

As Marv and others say, be patient. The glue will react with the heat and the water for easy removal. I use a wood chisel to get in between the base material and the veneer to "peel" it back. Slowly.......

Make sure the base wood is absolutely dry before applying new veneer. I use contact cement so there is no room for error, bu Elmer's stainable glue works good too. I do not recommend Gorilla glue products as they expand when curing. On curved surfaces, try using bungee cords wrapped around the curves to keep tension/pressure on the veneer during the drying process.

Good luck.

Terry F

12/9/2008 4:10:01 PMBob E

Terry,
thanks for your suggestions.. I have one of those
Shark steamers and was going to use it on other parts
of a radio but did not think of using it for veneer.
Also the idea of using the bungee cords is another
one I have not thought of.
And Jim...a cheap iron can be had a thrift store if
your wife is not too swift on you using it for gluey
jobs on radios :O)
Bob E

12/9/2008 6:48:51 PMIan

Lead shot for shotgun shells, in bags is also good for glueing small pieces of veneer. It will mold to the shape and is heavy for its size.

:Terry,
:thanks for your suggestions.. I have one of those
:Shark steamers and was going to use it on other parts
:of a radio but did not think of using it for veneer.
:Also the idea of using the bungee cords is another
:one I have not thought of.
: And Jim...a cheap iron can be had a thrift store if
:your wife is not too swift on you using it for gluey
:jobs on radios :O)
:Bob E

12/9/2008 9:14:08 PMjim

NO LUCK SO FAR, that is removing some veneer. And Bob, we did have an extra iron to use. Its a steam iron so will put water in it and try again. Called local lumber co. and they do not stock veneer

12/10/2008 3:27:34 AMG.BERG VANEER!!!!

Places like Home Depot, and Menards..if in your area supply rolls of vaneer:

NO LUCK SO FAR, that is removing some veneer. And Bob, we did have an extra iron to use. Its a steam iron so will put water in it and try again. Called local lumber co. and they do not stock veneer

12/10/2008 9:43:18 AMjim

ROLL OF VENEER???? How could that be??? Do not think u could roll up wood!! A friend of mine bought it at Lowes and it came in 2X2 ft. sheets

12/10/2008 10:14:18 AMZ-

ROLL OF VENEER???? How could that be??? Do not think u could roll up wood!! A friend of mine bought it at Lowes and it came in 2X2 ft. sheets

Cloth and paper backed veneer come in rolls. Architectural veneer that is. Too thick for radio restoration use.

Syl

12/10/2008 10:22:48 AMZ-

Places like Home Depot, and Menards..if in your area supply rolls of vaneer:

It is vEneer nor vAneer.

English being my second language, I cringe evertytime I read your replies. I have been a teacher in high school for a few years and I seriously doubt you are a member of the profession.

Syl

12/10/2008 10:22:51 AMZ-

Places like Home Depot, and Menards..if in your area supply rolls of vaneer:

It is vEneer nor vAneer.

English being my second language, I cringe evertytime I read your replies. I have been a teacher in high school for a few years and I seriously doubt you are a member of the profession.

Syl

12/10/2008 3:56:20 PMcan sign my name

Most people around here that can not sign their name just put an X

12/10/2008 8:10:59 PMBob E

Jim,
It should come up with the iron. i do not think I even used it on the steam setting but it has been awhile since I have done it. I say move the iron back and forth across the edge of the veneer (remember to have newspaper in between) until the glue gets soft.
This might take a minute or two after the iron gets up to the highest level. And it will smell! :O( You will probably have to use close to the highest setting on the iron as I recall. Then start trying push the knife under the outside edge first where you should be placing the maximum heat to get it started. You then should be able to run the iron back and forth with a little pressure and gradually run the knife under to separate the veneer from the cabinet or whatever you are separating it from. Hope this helps.
Bob E.

12/10/2008 7:42:19 PMPeter G. Balazsy

If 35 miles is too far to drive.. you can buy it on line... right?

Try www.constantines.com

12/11/2008 3:02:27 PMJon

:If 35 miles is too far to drive.. you can buy it on line... right?
:
:Try www.constantines.com

All:
I am lucky enough to have a Woodcraft shop here in Louisville. They have an amazing supply of veneers, toning laquers etc. Try them online and send for their catalog. I bought a large roll of cherry veneer for radio work and found it has great grain patterns and is nuetral enough in color that it can be stained most any color quit well. It is paper backed and is easy to work with.
Jon.