I'm new to working with veneer but have experience with hot hide glue and building tool chests and boxes. I'm currently starting a family project to create a box that's about 18x36x24 inches. Initially, I planned to use walnut, but I'm short on it, so I'm considering using white pine along with some decorative veneer. I've watched a few videos on hammer veneering, but I'm not entirely clear on the process. I'm wondering: is it practical to build a large through dovetail box first and then veneer the outside, or should I veneer the panels before assembling? I think doing it afterward might complicate the dovetail joints. I'm open to any advice on this. Thanks!
1 Answer
I've never seen a hammer-veneered through dovetail box. Typically, through dovetails are seen in more rustic pieces, while veneered boxes are usually made with full blind tails. You might want to check the MESDA archives for some historical examples of what you're considering. That could give you some insight into what might work!
That's what I was thinking! I figured blind dovetails might be more common with veneers. I've only seen smaller boxes done that way, while a larger one might need a full dovetail for strength. I guess I'll dig around for more examples in the archives!