I’ve got a problem that I need advice. The veneer is coming loose.
I have book matched burl veneer for a table top that is 18” x 60”. I applied two coats of Titebond II and glued the veneer to MDF following the hot iron procedure in FW issue #108 by Mario Rodriguez and #114 by Michael Burton. Everything seemed OK – rubbing with my finger nails I could not hear any bubbles. I then banded the MDF with 1 ½” cherry. After sanding gel dye was applied followed by Watco clear oil to pop the grain. I then applied a sealer coat of shellac. Now that there is a gloss finish I see lots of bubbles in the veneer, about 1” diameter and smaller. I don’t know how to proceed! I’m concerned that if I reheat with a hot iron the shellac or the oil will scorch and show dark splotches. I could sand off the shellac but the oil is into the veneer with no way to remove. Any advice???
Thanks Ron
Edited 11/19/2004 2:47 pm ET by Ron
Replies
Ron,
I'll have to refer to the specific FWW issue you reference since I think I read the same, too. I've just started veneering but am using cold-press technigue. Right away, I was suspicous when you said you used Titebond II, two coats then a hot iron. Titebond II is not, or I've never heard of, it being using as a hot-melt glue. Titebond does make an excellent veneer glue though, and again, no heat is involved. Only hide glue works such. Enough said, the bubbles can be treated as such:
- slice the veneer at the bubble parallel to the grain
- using a syringe and needle, inject PVA glue into the slit
- apply a flat board (caul) with something to release any glue that may squeeze out, over the bubble and press until the glue is set.
It's a shame that only now you discovered these, after completing such a finish.
For future reference, change your glue and/or your pressing techigue (vacuum bags are the hot tick).
Scrappy
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