Affordable tools and materials for veneering

In this weblog submit I’m going to speak about tools and materials you have to to begin working with veneer. Because everybody has various ranges of accessibility I’m not going to call drop costly tools or recommend any purchases. Fancy manufacturers don’t make the maker!

1. Knife

The necessary factor concerning the knife is having a pointy blade. I take advantage of a knife with the break off blades and will refresh the blade a number of occasions throughout a undertaking. If you may have entry to a single blade knife, chances are you’ll simply need to work slower when it will get uninteresting. I used a field cutter after I first began working with industrial veneer as a result of it’s what I had.

2. Clamps

I perceive the practice of thought {that a} stack of books urgent down the veneer will work. Embarrassingly, I do know from expertise, all my yr books and artwork historical past books didn’t work. Plastic pump clamps don’t work effectively both, go for any sort of metallic clamp. Clamps are costly, nonetheless previous rusty ones nonetheless work! For inexpensive choices try flea markets or storage gross sales.

3. Cutting mat

Shopping for a reducing mat is slightly unusual as a result of the costs fluctuate a lot relying on the place you purchase it. Shop round and evaluate costs, try quilting shops, craft shops, faculty shops, and {hardware} shops. It’s hilarious that an architect and a quilter can have the identical mat however paid completely different quantities. If you should not have entry to a mat, you should utilize a bit of scrap plywood, simply comprehend it gained’t final lengthy.

4. Tape

You will want extra tape than you understand. I take advantage of blue painters tape however you too can use inexperienced tape. 

5. Substrate

The substrate is the piece that you simply glue the veneer to, it may be strong wooden, plywood, MDF, and so forth. I take advantage of plywood and lower it myself to the specified measurement. Plywood sheets have gotten costlier however I normally pay approx. $40 and lower it into 8-10 items. If you should not have entry to a store to chop your materials you could find precut choices at craft shops, artwork shops, on-line retailers, and some {hardware} shops. Prices fluctuate relying on measurement, form, and amount.

6. Veneer

Unfortunately, in our capitalistic society, the extra you purchase of one thing, the cheaper it’s. If you might be simply beginning out it may be troublesome to justify the massive field of veneer when you don’t know when you just like the medium but. However, it’s simply as troublesome to justify the excessive worth of the small pattern pack. When shopping for a pattern pack or a shorts field evaluate the sq. footage to the worth. Some firms will let you know the variety of sheets however the sheets are fairly small. These packs can value anyplace from $20- $60. I purchase veneer from Certainly Wood however there are loads of different specialty veneer producers. Often these veneer manufactures are very happy to speak on the cellphone about your wants. You can even discover veneer packs at on-line retailers and some specialty lumber shops.

7. Glue

Any wooden glue or epoxy will work. I take advantage of wooden glue as a result of it has water in it and the moisture will swell the fibers and tighten the seams. I favor Titebond III as a result of it’s brown and if I miss a spot sanding then it isn’t obviously apparent. Use what you’ve received, disclaimer, glue does go dangerous, when you have a bottle behind your cabinet that’s been there some time be sure that to do a take a look at. 

Other issues you have to embrace a ruler, scissors, sandpaper (I take advantage of 120 and 220), and your selection of end (which I’ll discuss extra in upcoming blogs). 

Obtaining tools and materials may be very costly particularly for a newbie and sadly, there may be loads of monetary shaming and gatekeeping within the craft world. People have mentioned some very insensitive issues to me about what I may afford. I’m right here to let you know that costly tools are enjoyable however the pleasure of making is much more enjoyable! If you might be beginning out then use what you may have, make investments later if you need.

In memoriam to the reducing mat that I’ve had for 16 years. I not too long ago needed to settle for that they don’t stay without end. RIP