Replies

1. 
   Kungur | May 16, 2009 04:25pm | #1

   The conventional wisdom when veneering is " Treat both sides the same". This is to have a stable panel. So you would need to veneer each side. Might check out Joe WoodWorker.

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | May 16, 2009 05:26pm | #2

   That might not be a paper layer on the back, but rather "backer laminate."   This is material sold by the formica suppliers, intended to be the back side of panels.   It is essentially formica without the colored surface.   Its purpose is to provide balanced construction to the panels, to prevent warping. 

1. 
   DuaneR | May 17, 2009 07:26am | #3

   After cutting it up today the backing sure looks like a paper. Well saturated with a glue, it breaks  on the overhanging edges like glass, trims well with a razer knife. I have been looking at this while working with it ,it sure looks like it would take a veneer. Might try my hand at some marquetry. I will most likely try it on shop cabinet door first.

   Thanks for the good info

   Duane

1. 
   KeithNewton | May 18, 2009 03:33am | #4

   If you can put some heat on it with a heat gun, you can tell if contact cement was used to stick the backer on. If so, I would not veneer over that.Otherwise, before doing a large project, I would glue a sample of your chosen wood, and glue, then do your own QC test. I like to rip the parts into strips that I can break by hand different ways, to see how and where it breaks.Sometimes a twisting break may show where the weak spots are better than bending forces. Even if the backer is glued on good, and your glue line is good, if it splits down the paper, that may not be as good as gluing to wood or other substrates. Try splitting down the backer with a chisel after gluing your veneer on. If it doesn't, you should feel better. I would feel better about my own test, than taking someone's advice who can't even see your material.

2. 
   saschafer | May 19, 2009 11:01pm | #5

   Phenolic laminates like Formica are paper. Brown kraft paper, saturated with resin.

   -Steve

    

3. 
   GW52 | May 19, 2009 11:14pm | #6

   Duane,

   When all else fails see if you can get in touch with the manufacturer and see what they say.

   Greg