Hey folks! I'm looking to mill some custom veneer and I'd love your insights. What's the maximum thickness I can work with while keeping it stable for future use? I have both a planer and a jointer to flatten and square my boards. My plan was to use the bandsaw to cut rough strips of about 1/8 inch and then refine them. Would aiming for a thickness like 3/16 or 1/8 inch still be too much?
4 Answers
The typical approach I use is to plane the face first, then hit it with the bandsaw, and repeat that process. For best results, attach the veneer to your substrate before sanding the rough side to finish it off.
Your method sounds good! Just a heads-up, getting the final thickness often requires a drum sander. If that’s not an option for you, just cut as thin as possible on the bandsaw and sand down with grits between 60 and 80 until you reach your desired finish.
Yeah, unfortunately, a drum sander isn’t in my setup, but I’ll definitely use my bandsaw to get it as thin as I can. Thanks for the tips!
Honestly, that thickness might be a bit too much for veneer. Try to aim for around 1/16 inch or even thinner for the best results.
Thanks a ton! I appreciate the advice.
When milling veneer, keep in mind that planers usually have a minimum thickness they can handle effectively. If the veneer is too thin, it might get lifted by the blades, leading to splintering. A drum sander is actually a better choice for finishing veneer.
Got it! I mainly need the planer for squaring and flattening my full-size boards first. Then, I’ll be using the bandsaw for cutting. I'm mainly curious about what final thickness I should aim for when applying it to the substrate. I can cut down to 1/8 inch with my bandsaw and sand it down afterward.
Awesome! That’s exactly what I had in mind, so it’s good to know I'm on the right track.