ckurak
Posts: 107
Joined: 2006-10-28
Location: Florida
 User Profile |
I have a project where I need to wrap quarter-slice sapele (ribbon-mahogany) over the front edge of a counter top.
The subtrate is Extira and is 1.5" thick. I milled a bull-nose profile on the front by routing it with a 3/4" roundover bit on both top and bottom. The resulting profile is a 1.5" semi-circle. The grain runs with the edge of the counter, as the veneer definitely bends this way the best.
During a trial dry run of a small sample, the veneer readily cracked along the grain. I fully expected this, being quarter-sliced. So, to prevent splitting I added gum tape to the show face. Now I can bend it without the veneer cracking and splitting. The small sample could be formed around the 1.5" diameter without problem.
Now, the actual counter is almost 4' wide. The piece of veneer that bends is also almost 48". During a dry run it seemed that it would be ok, but I really would like if the veneer were a bit more flexible. The entire show face has 2" wide gum tape applied to keep existing joints together, and prevent new splits.
My question is: how can I make the veneer a little more flexible?
I thought of giving it a light spraying with "Veneer Softener" just before I bend it over the glued substrate. But, will the veneer softener loosen the gum tape, thereby causing a disaster? Or, will the veneer softener react with the urea resin glue (they would both be on the same side of the veneer) and prevent the glue from working?
Or, am I just being paranoid after spending days assembling the decorative veneer pattern that is part of this counter? And, the sapele will wrap around fine? Note that the pattern does NOT wrap around the bull-nose. The pattern is up on the flat area, and about 8" away from the curved edge.
Suggestions welcome,
Charles
|
