Darryl Keil Last Activity 2025-02-12 2:48 PM
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Brad

Posts: 87

Joined: 2008-04-22

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Subject : Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-12 12:48 AM
Post #34693
I decided my last passage doors were too boring given my new veneer system and I ordered some Makore Veneer for a trial. I thought I might get away without flattening, but when it arrived it was clear some flattening was needed. I watched the DVD again and located the items I needed to make some flattening solution. I am in Canada so Denatured alcohol is not common. I have used quite a bit of shellac over the years with Methyl Hydrate, but after chatting with a few different people I have learned that it contains some bad stuff in it and 99% pure Isopropyl alcohol was suggested as an alternate. After using (IPA) this to disolve some flakes last week I learned it is different somehow because it took far longer to disolve the flakes. I assume this will be okay for the flattening solution, but thought I would ask to make sure. In any event I will start the flattening with a couple of pieces only to avoid ruining a large quantity of material. Newspaper is the suggested blotter, but what about colored print? Will that bleed into the wood? I read here that un-printed newspaper or white butcher kraft paper. A little confused on the specific. Not as common these days to find many papers without colors.

When ordering the Makorke I also added some Bubinga Swirl for a trial for a potential client. I have a client in my current business that builds cabinetry (part of their construction business). I suggested that I would be willing to make fronts for him for smaller projects, but I gathered that they do not know what is available in veneers. What might be a good show case item that would not require a huge amount of time on my part?

thanks


 
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ckurak

Posts: 107

Joined: 2006-10-28
Location: Florida

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-12 9:51 AM
Post #34694 - In reply to #34693
Brad,

For absorbing the moisture, I use inexpensive, white paper towels. I don't need to worry about the newspaper ink transferring to the veneer. At first, when the veneer is really moist, I also use fiberglass screening (available in rolls at most hardware stores) to keep the paper from adhering to the veneer. The paper towels are reusable. Just lay them out to dry.

Regarding sample veneers, there is a very nice set of veneer samples in a set of three presentation binders available (for a fee) at certainlywood.com. Also, take a look at their online Veneer Locator. They have lots of pictures of actual veneers for sale. For a special project I was able to specify the actual veneer selection to purchase based on the online photos.

Charles


 
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Brad

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-12 6:00 PM
Post #34695 - In reply to #34694
Thanks for the reply Charles. I will go get the paper towels. I am quite excited to get started with this veneer. It looks a lot like suede and think it will make great panels for my next door.

How do they store the veneers at CW? I am curious since I took the shipment home and brought back a few pieces the next day and by the end of the day they were starting to curl quite a lot more.

I did get the 50 samples last time, but the presentation binders are not ready for a week or two from CW. As for the project, I was going to build a small table top or something else that might fit in an upscale construction firm.

Thanks


 
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ckurak

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Joined: 2006-10-28
Location: Florida

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-12 7:27 PM
Post #34696 - In reply to #34695
Brad,

I am not sure how the veneers are stored at Certainly Wood. I store mine with some weight on them. A piece of plywood the right size seems to work for me. Some just stay flat on their own. But, I like to keep them covered, flat, and clean.

Regarding samples, you have two issues here.

1) The available veneers. The presentation binders from Certainly Wood are a great design and sales tool. The collection of 50 may work for your projects. I found that the collection of 50 that I bought somewhere (not CW) did not have the veneers for a particular decorative veneering project. So, I used CW's website instead until I had the presentation binders from CW. CW will also provide actual samples if you need them.

2) Your craftmanship. You mentioned a small table top. That might work quite well. Decide if you want to keep it simple with a single piece of veneer, or 4-way book-match it, or do some decorative veneering. Marquetry is another step past decorative veneering, and is an art form of its own. Folks on this forum have done each of these. So, if you have questions, just ask. Searching through the archives will also yield a wealth of information. Be sure to give your sample project a real nice finish. Prospective clients will want to touch and feel the sample.

Charles


 
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Darryl Keil

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Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-13 9:27 PM
Post #34707 - In reply to #34693
Brad,

Isopropyl alcohol is fine instead of the denatured kind. Black and white newspaper is fine but not with color in it, that will bleed. I get the end of the rolls from our local newspaper. When they run a newspaper they have to stop near the end of a roll and start a new one. Theres a lot of paper left on these rolls. My paper gives them away free.

If your contractor friend wants you to make fronts for him and they're not too wide find a veneer that naturally comes wide like birdseye maple or pomele sepele which will save you the extra work of seaming and taping the veneer for these front.

Darryl


 
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Brad

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Joined: 2008-04-22

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-14 12:54 PM
Post #34708 - In reply to #34707
Charles, Darryl:

It worked great. I pressed the pieces three times last night and now they are sitting with weights. I really like the idea of getting ends from the local paper. I have about 120sq ft to do and the paper towel narrow sheets was getting a bit tedious.

The one end of the Bubinga swirl has a rather large knot and many sheets split and curled at the corner. These ends have a lot of character and I would prefer not to cut much off the end. The first test piece I flattened does not look like it will come back tight, but I have not tried yet. Any tips how to deal with this?

Thanks


 
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ckurak

Posts: 107

Joined: 2006-10-28
Location: Florida

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-14 3:18 PM
Post #34709 - In reply to #34708
Brad,

I have to agree with Darryl on the blank paper. Much faster than paper towels. I just found paper towels to be readily available with a quick trip to the store. If you have a paper source, go for it. The price is right. The size is right. And Darryl says it works.

You might even consider making the newspaper company a small veneered something-or-other as a thank you gift sometime in the future. Drop it off with a short description of how you used (recycled) the paper, your company, and a thank you note. You never know. You might get your "name in the paper"! Even if you don't, you will still have the paper to use and a repeat source of supply.

Charles


 
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Brad

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-21 7:34 PM
Post #34750 - In reply to #34709
Another couple questions:

How much weight do people leave on the material after flattening? I know it sounds like an odd question, but I followed Darryl's DVD and continued flattening on the second day with weights only to find out later that I did not use enough weight. Truthfully, it was pretty silly, I only used some shelving pieces with some odds and ends staked on top. The test piece turned out pretty much like they were then they first arrived. A lot more pliable, but still far too difficult to work with. I have done some more now and used my router jig with clamps on the second day and now they are sitting under about 100lb of weight.

I applied the flattening solution to the pieces on a sheet of melamine and I noticed that solution that spilled onto the melamine really did not dry. It got very tacky, but could not be removed without alchol. Should the mix have dried? I got to thinking I may have a problem with the isopropyl alchol or the glycerine I purchased from the drug store. I am not a chemist by any means.

I was searhing for veneer items and came accross a veneer site that sells a softening solution. Is that different than Darryl's mix?

Brad


 
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ckurak

Posts: 107

Joined: 2006-10-28
Location: Florida

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Subject : RE: Flattening and Presentation Suggestion
Posted : 2008-07-22 12:04 PM
Post #34754 - In reply to #34750
Brad,

I use my vacuum press for flattening.

Charles
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