How to Cut Out and Replace Bad Veneer

Good veneer can make even a mediocre piece of furniture look desirable and chipped or broken veneer can make a good piece of furniture look as if it is ready for a yard sale.Several different methods can be used to cut out and replace bad veneer, but we shall use the method that is used by professionals to replace large pieces of bad veneer.The process is not complicated and the finished result can be quite amazing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• X-acto knife
• Replacement piece of veneer
• wood glue
• Masking Tape or Blue Painter's Tape
• Small brush for spreading glue
• Rag
• Benzene or naphtha
• Waxed paper
• Wood blocks
• 1 or more C-Clamps

How to Cut Out and Replace Bad Veneer

1. Locate a piece of replacement veneer that is just slightly larger than the damaged area you need to replace. The replacement veneer should be the same color and have the same grain pattern as the veneer it will be repairing.

2. Lay the piece of replacement veneer over the damaged veneer. Make certain that the grain pattern in the replacement veneer is as close a match to the original veneer as possible and that the grain in the replacement veneer is aligned with grain in the original. Tape the piece of replacement veneer over the bad veneer.

3. Draw a random shape on the piece of replacement veneer that is larger than the one you will be replacing. Do not make a square or a circle. Diamonds or parallelograms or other shapes are fine. Your shape should have straight edges.

4. Cut out your random shape carefully, using a straight edge. Cut through the new piece of veneer as well as the bad veneer beneath it, but try not to cut into the wood under the bad veneer.Remove the cut piece of new veneer and then carefully remove the piece of bad veneer that is now cut to the same size and shape as the good veneer. If necessary cut the bad veneer into small pieces and carefully remove them using the tip of your X-acto knife without damaging the edges of the cut.

5. Scrape old glue from the board where old veneer has been removed. Use benzene or naphtha to loosen and remove old glue if necessary.Once the area is clean and dry make certain that your new piece of veneer fits snugly into the randomly-shaped hole you have cut. Using a small brush spread a thin layer of wood glue on the wood and then press the new piece of veneer into place. Work from the bottom edge up pressing your new veneer into place and squeezing out any excess glue. Wipe up excess glue immediately with a damp rag.

6. Lay a piece of waxed paper over the repair. Then, depending on the size and shape of the repair, place one or more wooden blocks on top of the waxed paper and use C-Clamps to firmly clamp down your veneer repair. Wait 24 hours.Remove the C-Clamps, blocks and waxed paper and sand the repair lightly with a fine grit sand paper if necessary.Polish using wood cleaner.

Tips & Warnings

• The key is finding a piece of replacement veneer that is the same color and grain pattern as the original.
• Make certain that the grain in the new piece is exactly aligned with the grain in the original piece.