Featured Guest Post

By: Sarah Stahl

We’ve all had that moment. While thrifting we spot “that” dream piece of furniture.  The one that we thought we would never find. Only, this isn’t a happy dream. In our nightmare, we realize that the veneer is beyond saving.  Is that the moment to walk away or roll up your sleeves?

What Dreams Are Made of

As a Furniture Refinisher, I have seen a lot of furniture. But the one item I had never come across in person was an original British Stonehill Drinks Cabinet.  Sure, I saw a lot of pictures online, but never one in person.  Being based in the Netherlands, it just was never a popular style of furniture here.

So, imagine my surprise when I was contacted via email by an individual who was looking to sell his Stonehill Drinks Cabinet, locally.  

The catch? 

None of the other refinishers were interested due to the extensive veneer chipping.  Not simply a small chip, but across the whole front of the curved edge. 

The professional refinishers had declined to purchase the cabinet.  I on the other hand jumped in with both feet, despite having no experience working with veneer.  Call me crazy but wait until you see the result.

Research Starts a Project

Thankfully the world is filled with blogs wanting to share their knowledge and experience, including veneer specialists.  After spending months researching how to tackle this project, the following is what you need to know about wood veneer.

• Veneer is very thin wood that covers a substrate, such as plywood, cheaper solid wood, chipboard etc.
• Veneer should always be on both sides of the substrate to avoid the substrate warping over time. 
• The veneer is attached with wood glue and held in place with clamps, weight, vacuum or even ironed on until set.
• Veneer is very strong but can be damaged like any other wood.  The glue can also loosen over time, which can require repairs.
• There are two main types of veneer; raw wood veneer which is thin wood without further support and paper-backed veneer which is thin wood with a paper backing.  Raw veneer often comes with more dramatic wood grain, while paper-backed veneer will be more flexible and easier to work with.

Looking for more information before you start your big project?  Head over to boldwallflowers.com and browse all veneer-related posts.

The Basic Steps to Replacing Wood Veneer

For those brave enough to roll up their sleeves and dive into the world of veneer, the following are the key steps you will need to take.

1. Remove the Original Veneer

Veneer can be replaced on a bare substrate.  Therefore, the first step to replace veneer is to first remove the original veneer.  The simplest way is the wet method.  This process uses heat from an iron and wet towels to create steam and cause the original glue to loosen.  Allowing you to pry the veneer loose.

2. Sand the Substrate

When all the veneer is removed, you need to sand the substrate smooth and fill any holes.  You want a smooth surface to apply the new wood veneer on.  Any dents, ridges or dirt will ruin the finish.  

As the glue and veneer should have a surface which it can grip onto, you will only want to sand to a maximum of 120 grit.  Afterwards, remove all dirt, dust, and debris.

3. Apply Glue

The choices of wood glue are endless.  You can go with speciality Veneer glue or opt for a super strong, standard carpentry glue.  The glue is a personal choice, but the application of the glue needs to be smooth and equal across the entire surface of the substrate and the piece of veneer you are applying.  

The simplest tool for this process is a glue roller.  Worth the money, as it makes the process fast and ensures a smooth, even application.

4. Apply the Veneer

Press the piece of wood veneer onto the substrate and smooth out all air bubbles which may become trapped under the veneer. 

5. Apply Pressure

You can apply pressure in several ways.  

• Clamping:  if the size of your piece allows it, you can clamp the veneer in place.  As you want even pressure across the whole surface, consider placing wood across the veneer and clamp onto the wood to apply pressure across the whole area.  
• Vacuum:  A veneer press works via pressure caused by placing the piece into a plastic bag and vacuuming out the air.  Thereby applying the necessary pressure to the surface of your veneer. 
• Weights:  if the piece is larger than clamps allow for, cover the surface of the wood veneer with wood and apply weights to the surface.  This will press down on the wood over the veneer and apply the necessary pressure. 
• Ironing on:  This method is only applicable if you have a special glue; such as Heat Lock Veneer Glue.   

6. Allow Time to Set

Each type of glue requires a different length of time to set.  Therefore, read the glue you used carefully and allow for the necessary drying time. 

7. Remove Overhang

Only after the glue has set, should you attempt to cut away the veneer overhang.  This is done with a sharp utility knife.  Place it against the edge you want to cut, holding it straight and slice slowly.  Afterwards, come back with sandpaper and sand the edge further until smooth.

Now that your veneer is attached and the edges are smoothed, you can continue to finish your project as you wish.  Wood veneer can be treated as any other wood surface and can be stained, painted, oiled or top-coated.  The choices are endless.

The Finished Project 

Remember the chipped, blond cabinet from the start? Well, I tackled this project and replaced the Maple veneer with a beautiful Walnut veneer, which was more in line with the cabinet’s age.  The end results are astounding.  Once destined for the dump, this 60-year-old drinks cabinet is ready to shine as a focal point in a cocktail night.

Quick Bonus Note: 

A big thank you to Sarah Stahl for submitting this wonderfully informative post. I myself have never attempted to veneer furniture before, but after reading Sarah’s breakdown how could I not be inspired to refinish an antique piece of my own!

Like many of us, Sarah found herself looking for new hobbies to keep herself entertained during the COVID pandemic and jumped head-first into furniture refinishing. She started her blog, Bold Wallflowers with a mission to share her experience in starting her own business and breaking down the art of refinishing into concise, easy-to-understand segments so you start your own creative venture with confidence. 

It’s easy to see how her honest and straightforward approach to sharing her knowledge and process inspires others to follow in her footsteps. She embraces her mistakes as being her greatest teachers, and shares them to help speed up the learning curve for her readers. 

Whether you’re a small business owner hoping to turn your passion into profit, looking to refine your skills and explore her treasure trove of refinishing resources, or on the search for beautifully refinished antique furniture for your home, Bold Wallflowers is the place for you! You can sign up for the Bold Wallflowers newsletter on her website to stay in the loop on all of Sarah’s projects. 

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I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on!

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