Hi all,
I’m making a small side table and for the 14″x 20″ top I would like to do a lamination of maple and cherry. I just had a general question about wood movement and lamination technique. My plans are to do a 7/8″ top with the top layer being about 1/8 – 1/4″ cherry with a bottom layer of maple. Both woods running in the same direction.
What I’m wondering, is that will this present problems with wood movement, splitting, etc.?
I’ve noticed, in plywood for instance, that there’s always an odd number of layers when laminating. And the wood grain always runs perpendicular. Do I need to follow these guidlines? Will I get significant warpage or splitting or anything, or do you suppose my scenerio will work out alright?
Thanks,
Drew
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Replies
That construction is almost like making a humistat. It is likely to cup and uncup with changes in the season. 1/4" is really a bit thick as a veneer, though there would be no problem with 1/8'. And you do need to stay balanced--what you do on the top you should do on the bottom.
I think there are some other ways to skin the cat. You could, for example, use cherry veneer--1/16th is still a good heavy veneer. Then on the edge you could inlay bands of veneer to create the striped effect you seem to be looking for. Commercial 1/48th veneer is awfully thin but you probably can find commercial 1/16th inch veneer so you don't have to cut it yourself, but in narrow strips its not hard.
Side bar: at a Colonial Williamsburg conference at a point where veneer was mentioned, the Master Cabinetmaker, Mack Headley, picked up a panel saw, and commenced to saw a smooth even thickness slice of veneer from a 6 inch or so wide board. I don't recall that the board was even clamped to a workbench. Some people have better hand skills than others.
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