veneer question

[hologram1954]

This may sound a strange question but Ive just made up a tele body blank and have a bookmatched pair of flame maple veneers.If I use them should I roundover the edge of the body before or after fitting the veneers..any comments welcome.

[b3leslie]

Always before, making sure your glue bond at the edges is great so the veneer doesn't chip away while rounding over.

[hologram1954]

sorry im a little confused are you saying roundover after veneering ?

[Wheelie]

I put on the veneer, trim carefully with a knife and then shape.

Steve

[Picton]

I'm sure b3leslie is saying to put the veneer on first, then round over. Not to put words in his mouth, but think about how tough it would be to round over, then match the veneer PERFECTLY along the edge so that it looked natural.

Come to think of it, I think this is why folks put on a cap, rather than a veneer, when they want a fine-figured top. You can round over a cap and still have it look like the same wood.

My recommendation would be to use a contrasting wood as your substrate: for flame maple, perhaps some subdued mahogany or chambered walnut. That way, after the roundover, it'll look like binding from the front. Should make a nice effect.

[hackworth1]

Do this:
Glue both halves of your bookmatched veneers together if possible.
Cut out your body. Rout your body sides flat and plumb.
Find and mark the centerline on your body. Put accurate pencil lines at the bottom where the strap button will go and also at the neck pocket.
Locate and mark where the pickups will go.
Put a small black drywall screw in the center of each pickup location at the center line.
Cut off the screw heads with wire cutters.
Rough Cut your veneer top about a 1/2 an inch oversize all around.
Now locate where the pickups will go on the veneer top. Drill or punch a small hole in the center seam in the middle of the location where the pickups will go.
Glue veneer top to body and clamp and/or weight down with even pressure.
Let dry overnight. Remove headless screws with vise grips.
Paint top with natural shellac or sanding sealer. You can use a paint brush.
Let dry for two days.
Rout edge flush with body.
Then Rout with roundover bit.

[szechuanking]

when i think 'veneer' i think 1/16" 2 ply material. 1/4" stock i would consider more of a 'lam top' or 'cap', as mentioned above. which are you using? either way (if its solid body) i find it easiest to glue my top on as my first step. (obviously not if its a chambered body). everybody has there own technique. i've tried it both ways and find it much easier to glue the top as my first step.

[hologram1954]

Thanks for all the advice im now sure ill veneer and then shape with roundover.

[SacDAve]

Well if I was going to use veneer I would do a bound edge instead of rounded over. I have limited experience with veneers but I think for rounding over it’s all about your glue job, if it’s the veneer with the paper backing (which I doubt) that would most likely show the edge on a round over. I have also had glue bleed threw veneer (oak) didn’t stain to well. I have also thought about using veneers some nice stuff at good prices

[hologram1954]

Yes a bound edge would be good but not sure my skills are up to it maybe some test
pieces first.

[SacDAve]

For the binding the trick is the router bit to match your binding this is a good one to use to learn.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bindings...r_Binding.html. For the first attempt I would use the .060 bit and a plastic binding. It’s really not that hard. If you can build a body you could do a binding.

Hears another web sight on veneering it’s has some good information might be helpful.
. http://www.veneersupplies.com/ This sight has some information might be helpfully
Bottom of page learn about veneering

[hologram1954]

Thanks for that I was reading the emeraldcaster build on here which explains
binding too.