Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | Jul 17, 2009 04:07pm | #1

   cd,

   If the panel is flat now, you should be alright if you remove the damaged veneer, and replace it with the new.  I would not recommend simply covering the old damaged surface with new veneer, for a number of reasons.  Adhesion could be a problem, (unless you carefully remove all the old finish,) you will likely unbalance the plywood panel's laminations, possibly leading to warping, and finally, the panel will end up thicker, possibly leading to its binding instead of sliding freely.

   Ray

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Jul 19, 2009 04:59pm | #4

   I've got a similar situation that needs to be addressed in the near future, Ray. So... knowing you have been a professional restorer for years, thanks for the tip on removing the old in lieu of covering it. My Yankee (God bless her soul as she had no choice on place of birth) has a secretary that belonged to her Dutch father from Altoona, PA.

   Removing the old first makes as much sense as taking off old shingles on a roof in lieu of covering them once I think about it. You can get away with that once on a roof before removing both layers on the 3rd replace but I  guess a thin layer of veneer would be considered much more fragile and should be done from the git-go.

   Now.. my question to you is something Woodguydan mentioned about if the damage is to the up or showing side.. why not just remove old veneer on the damaged good side.. replace with new.. and turn the top over making the current old but matching veneer on the bottom become the top if the design allows it?

   So... what's your take on that theory? Of course my approach if it were mine is to just go build a new secretary as for me it would be less work but some folks are hung up on family heir-looms for whatever reason and it gives you a job. Of course a Yankee MIL is going to make your life as complex as possible as that's a MIL's main purpose in life I suppoe. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..

   Have a good day my friend...

   Sarge..

   Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia

   Edited 7/19/2009 10:02 am ET by SARGEgrinder47

1. 
   joinerswork | Jul 19, 2009 05:28pm | #5

   Howdy Sarge,

   There are a lot of variables in a situation such as you describe.  Not the least of which is what will it take to keep Maw-in-law the least dissatisfied?  (Regardless of what is the best repair, her expectations must be met, right?  If maw ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.) Nearly as important is the issue of the piece's age, which affects both its likely value, and its means of construction.  These will (or ought to) in turn, determine the treatment methods chosen to repair the damage.

   If this is an 18th or 19th century antique, it will have enough value to warrent careful repair of the existing veneered surface, which means patching out missing areas with a matching veneer, and coloring and finishing them to match.  If you haven't the skill or patience to do this, I know someone ( ;-)  who does.  Believe me, when the twins on that Road show see it, they won't be happy with a new slice of veneer on the whole thing, unless there is photographic evidence that all the old stuff was irreparable.

   Turning the writing surface over and using the bottom for the top isn't likely to turn out well either.  Generally, old work is veneered over solid stock on the top side only.  Newer work, that is made of either plywood or "lumber core" (solid wood with veneers on both sides) will generally have inferior grade veneer, or another species of veneer altogether on its underside.  In any case, there will usually be holes for hardware or stops, glueblocking, and skidmarks or gouged out tracks, etc that will mar the under surface and prevent its successful use as a show surface.

   To summarise:

   1) If the old bag--er, mother dearest-- wants a new slide made, then, so let it be written and so let it be done (but save the old one, just in case).

   2) If it is a hundred yrs or older, tread lightly, every shaving you take off might be removing $1,000 of value.

   3) If it's a newer piece, a re-veneering of the show surface is still probably your best bet, possibly combined with a refinishing of part or all of the surrounding area to achieve a match.

   Cheers,

   Ray

    

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Jul 19, 2009 07:46pm | #6

   Thanks Ray. Mine is a piece probably built somewhere in the late 19th century with a guess as my MIL is only 68 ( my wife is 12 years younger than me and her father was around 90 when he passed and that was about 30 years ago if my memory serves me.

   BTW... my MIL is actually very nice. My FIL had the typical attitude as he likes to run the show. On their first visit about 23 years ago I heard him in the kitchen with my wife when all else were in the family room. He was telling her you need to tell him to do this.. or do that concerning my home. I got up.. walked to the kitchen and told him to step down to the shop for a few moments as we were going to have a talk. My wife warned me about his dominance from her first marriage.

   Well.. I simply got in his face and explained that he was only 10 years older than me.. he was in my home.. and he was not going to run it. I pointed out clearly all the exits and told him if it ever happened again he would be directed to one. In exchange I told him I would not come into his home and tell him how to run it.

   Worked well.. even to the point I started putting a Yankee Go Home banner over my drive-way entrance when they came to visit. And I had an old parking meter given to me by the city when they upgraded which I put up in the drive-way and made them put pennies in it to park when they visited.

   But.. they thought that was very funny and told their friends I was their wild and crazy southern son-in -law. They moved down 2 years ago but about 65 miles on the other side of Atlanta by my BIL who is a shop foreman in hydraulics at Delta Air Lines. All is well as there has been no problems since our little talk which consisted of me doing the talking. :>)

   A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do and that's that. ha.. ha...

   Regards for the day...

   Sarge..

   Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia

   Edited 7/19/2009 12:47 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47

1. 
   joinerswork | Jul 20, 2009 05:23pm | #7

   Sarge,

   Yeah, I was just joshin' a little- my mother in law was a wonderful woman as well.  I got along well with my father in law also, as I was the first (my wife is the youngest of three girls) suitor to face him and tell him I was gonna marry his baby girl.  The first two sisters eloped.  Apparently the novelty of the situation weakened his resistance! 

   Ray 

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 22, 2009 04:03am | #8

   Ray,

   Are ye sure it wont nothin to do with the Injun parked in the driveway?  You did say it's a '38, right?

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

3. 
   joinerswork | Jul 22, 2009 03:47pm | #9

   Hiya Bob,

   I got the wife a LONG time before the Indian.

   Ray

2. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 17, 2009 06:13pm | #2

   I'd think the approach to any repairs would depend on the age and value of the piece. For example, a really old, really valuable piece might be best left alone, or restored by a professional antique restorer.

   For a functional piece (i.e. not a valuable antique), I'd agree - don't put fresh veneer over the old surface, and repair both sides of the panel in a similar manner, so as to avoid warping. Matching the existing color may require additional research and experimentation.

3. 
   integrity_woodworks | Jul 19, 2009 11:15am | #3

   cdambrosio, is there veneer on both sides know ,but only one is damaged?if so remove the veneer from the damaged side only,and only veneer that side. I would also say that if the writing tab is made of veneered plywood it is likely not that only ,or extremely valuable.if the under side He does not want you veneer is the same veneer as the other then make it the top now.

   Dan