WWA Info Exchange

I am making a couple of drawers for a nightstand and using some left over walnut burl veneer on the fronts. I am down to the last of it and don't have enough to do both sides. The drawer face is about 4 1/4 by 18 inches and an inch thick. The drawer front is also walnut so I don't need to veneer the inside for looks. I find it hard to believe that a thin veneer is really necessary on a small piece like that and an inch thick. What do you guys think?

Well, it is not only about the veneer itself, but about the moisture you are adding to the piece when adding the veneer. The glue adds a considerable amount of instability to the wood when adding the veneer. So when you add it to both sides you effectively cancel out the potential warpage you might get by adding the veneer.

You could do a test piece with a different veneer on one side of a scrap piece of walnut to see how it reacts.
Good luck,
Darryl

the dry glue also makes a good moisture barrier that the back side wont have

You definitely don't need to use the same species of wood or even the same thickness of veneer on both sides of the piece but you should use something on both sides to equalize the glue surfaces.

amazingly enough I had some (very slight) cupping in 3/4 inch MDF when I did my recent veneer and only veneered one side. I don't know the reasoning behind it, but I veneered both sides after that on all my pieces.


I don't know if that answers your question or not, but I wanted to share
Lawrence

Everything I've ever read or heard has stressed the importance of balancing both sides, not only with veneer but finishes as well. Simply use a less dear flitch of veneer on the interior.

_________________
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium

Cheers - Dennis

O.K., thanks, I dug out some scraps of the burl and did the other side. I can see why there might be a warping problem with larger panels but a board 4 1/4 inches wide I have my doubts, but better safe than sorry I guess. I have only applied veneer a couple of times to small pieces so I will defer to the expertise of you guys.