How to Glue Veneer Furniture

Used in a large assortment of furniture pieces, including tables and shelves, wood veneer has been a popular choice among furniture builders for a very long time. Wood veneer is a type of thin wood that is glued onto core panels, or substrates. Veneer furniture is vulnerable to damage caused by extreme heat, cold, and dampness, and is likely to warp and peel if left exposed to the weather. Preparing your wood veneer properly, and correctly gluing it to the substrate, can help prevent this type of damage from occurring.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood glue
• Gloves
• Sheets of veneer
• Wood panels or substrates
• Sand paper
• Roller for applying glue
• Pencil
• Vacuum press or clamps and weights

How to Glue Veneer Furniture

1. Choose the type of adhesive to use before preparing the veneer for gluing. There are many adhesives currently on the market specifically designed for gluing veneer, but many different types of glue will get the job done. Iron-on veneer glue, cold press glue, epoxy, polyurethane, yellow glue, and hide glue are all suitable for use on wood veneer. Your choice of glue will depend on the equipment you will be using, and on your skill level.

2. Test the veneer to determine the type of surface preparation required based on whether you are using paper-backed veneer or raw wood veneer. Paper-backed veneer should be tested by applying a drop of water to the backing. If the drop of water remains after 5 seconds, the backer must be scuff sanded with 80 or 100 grit sand paper. Lacquer thinning is equally effective, but considerably less convenient. No special preparation is required for raw wood veneers.

3. Clamp the veneer to the substrate using either a vacuum press or clamps and weights. It is essential to distribute pressure evenly across the panel, or the glue may cause ridges and bubbles to appear.

4. Apply glue evenly to the substrate material. When all the glue has been applied, the substrate should look evenly painted, and should not look overly wet with glue. Placing a pencil mark on the substrate is an easy trick that will enable you to apply the proper amount of glue to the substrate. If the pencil mark is faded, but still visible, the correct amount of glue has been applied.

5. Allow sufficient time for the glue to dry. Cold press glue typically requires about 60 minutes to fully set, and another 4 to 6 hours to cure. Urea resins require a minimum of 4 hours in the press. While it is important to allow your panel to dry completely, leaving them in the press for too long can result in mold growth and uneven curing. To prevent warping, veneer both sides of the panel to even out the stress placed on the substrate.

Tips & Warnings

• Glue should always be applied to the substrate material - not to the veneer.