I am considering using Sapele Pommele veneer on my current project. The panel will have a slight curvature. I am planning on vacuum forming the panel and using wackwood as the core. I also intend to inlay an ebony pattern into the surface of this panel.
I have not used Sapele Pommele veneer and looks very fragile . I would appreciate anyone with experience with it to let me know if they think I will have problems with the durability of such a laminate, or excessive chipping when I do the inlay.
My project is an altar table for a chuch, and this panel will be part of the base. It needs to last for a long time.
Thanks for any thoughts you might have.
Allen
Replies
I used pommele sapele some time ago and I get where you're coming from on the brittleness thing. You can use a veneer softener to make the veneer more supple. Here's a link to a veneer softener:
http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Super-Soft-2-Veneer-Softener-Conditioner.html
On any substrate, you should plan to veneer both sides to prevent warping. Both sides don't have to be the expensive stuff, but a similar species is ideal. This "balances" the two sides so they take on and release moisture at similar rates. I think this is even more important with a solid wood substrate. If you use a glue with water in it, it will make the veneer curl up when you put glue on it. I think most folks just put the glue on the substrate and then put on the veneer.
As far as the inlay goes, I think as long as you've got good adhesion throughout the veneer surface and no voids, I don't think you'll have any issues with chipping. Using a down sprial bit will help a lot too.
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