How to Apply a Clamp to Wood Veneer

Veneer makes a beautiful wood covering for fiberglass, or for wood that’s not so beautiful. Clamping it in place is tricky. It cracks easily because it’s so thin. It’s also susceptible to shifting on wet epoxy. It has to be clamped firmly in place and protected; here's how.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pressure clamps or C-clamps
• Smooth "footers"

1. Prepare, glue and lay the veneer. Leaflets of veneering are taped together for optimum grain matching. Epoxy is slathered and the leaves laid over a completely smooth surface. Any bubbles are lanced with a razor blade to let the air out. Get the veneer laid in the exact place you want it affixed. Now you're ready to apply a clamp to wood veneer.

2. Protect and stabilize the veneer surface. Use hardwood or formica-finished pieces to sit between veneer and clamps. The side that’s laid against the veneer must be flat and completely smooth. You’ll need at least 2 clamps on each of these footers to keep them in place. More clamps may be necessary, depending on length.

3. Choose the clamps. An array of spring-loaded pressure clamps works best, but it’s not always possible to use them. Pressure clamps don’t open very wide, so they’re unable to fit around many pieces. C-clamps have wider openings, but require more care in using with fragile veneer. It’s possible to tighten a C-clamp so firmly that it breaks veneer. Don’t let this happen to you!

4. Achieve proper pressure. Look at an edge of the veneer, so you can see the surface it’s affixed to also. Tighten the clamps enough to press the veneer against that surface in its entirety. If you see the veneer lifting away from the surface, then more clamps are needed, or the footers have to be rearranged.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re veneering a level surface, it’s also possible to use weight to help hold it down. Be sure the objects used are not heavy enough to crack the veneer, and place them on footers as well.