Old veneers

[Artiglio]

Good day all

Another find in the clearout is a drawer of veneers, lord only knows how long they’ve been in there ,far from flat and bone dry and brittle, but look as though there is some really nice figuring amongst it. I’m not going to be able to use them for a few years at least, but have always fancied a go at box making. Is there a way these should be stored to get the best out of them in the future?

Many thanks

 

[Phil]

Keep them as flat as possible, apply some humidity to stop any cracking when you apply flattening-force.

At a factory buying 9x6 the top cover board of 18mm PB will always be placed op top of crate.

 

[Woodbloke]

Good day all

Another find in the clearout is a drawer of veneers, lord only knows how long they’ve been in there ,far from flat and bone dry and brittle, but look as though there is some really nice figuring amongst it. I’m not going to be able to use them for a few years at least, but have always fancied a go at box making. Is there a way these should be stored to get the best out of them in the future?

Many thanks

Old veneers can be good to use but (and here's the caveat) they can be quite 'tricky' as they're usually always, as you mention, bone dry and very brittle. There is however, a way to soften them up and that's to spray with a weak glycerine solution using a hand held garden sprayer. The solution is usually about 1:4 but it's not crucial. Once sprayed both sides, laminate them 'twixt layers of thick paper (lining paper for walls is ideal) and then cramp between boards, changing the paper each day. This will not only make the veneers less dry but will also make them flat should any be bowed or buckled - Rob

 

[Artiglio]

Thank you, i’ll put them somewhere safe until the time comes to use the,.

 

[droogs]

If they are as brittle and dry as you say now they will be dust by the time you get round to using them in a few years. Before you put them away, prepare them for long term storage. It takes time a lot of discipline to go through the process but in the end it is very much worth it.

First get yourself the component parts to make a batch of veneer restorer/reviver. This will act to reintroduce moisture into the veneer along with a softener and a preserver. There are many formulae and ready made (expensive) mixes around. Personally I use the same mix as Scott Grove, you can get his mix formula in some of his video on his site https://www.imaginegrove.com/

Get a roll of blank newsprint or a stack of chipshop paper

soak each leaf of veneer in the mix and then place between 2 sheet of paper
Stack them up about 5 high and them press them in a couple of platens with clamps and change the paper for new dry sheets every 12 hours for around 3 days until the paper is dry. Then you can restack the leaves and place into storage.

Scott has a couple of very good vids about the process in a great bit of detail


hth