Get Began in Marquetry – FineWoodworking

I began working with veneer in 2017 as a result of I didn’t have constant entry to a woodshop, and I might simply minimize veneer in my residence with out producing sawdust. I quickly discovered I used to be in a position to create a marquetry panel with just a bit little bit of observe. I wanted solely a small quantity of tooling to get began and had the flexibility to work practically wherever. As time has handed and my ardour has grown, I’ve invested extra money to purchase nicer instruments. However earlier than spending a whole bunch of {dollars} on instruments and supplies, you’ll be able to experiment with veneer in reasonably priced methods.

Making an summary sample just like the one I display on this article will will let you experiment with shade, scale, distinction, and composition, whereas studying the right way to minimize and assemble marquetry packs.

Slicing your first items

I start an summary piece by deciding on the veneer. I buy pattern packs from Actually Wooden; I like figuring out that the corporate sources its materials responsibly. For this piece I selected teak, fiddleback makore, crotch maple, burl maple, chestnut, and dyed gum, preserving in thoughts the vary of colours and the combo of straight and figured grain.

I chosen teak as my predominant species. As a result of the teak elements could be the biggest, dictating the sample and circulate of your entire piece, I minimize them to form first. I take advantage of an Olfa 9mm SVR-2 utility knife with a snap-off blade to chop my veneer. (You’ll find related knives at a ironmongery store for much less.) You will need to take a number of mild passes when chopping the veneer. The preliminary minimize is a really mild rating line. In the event you use an excessive amount of stress or swipe too rapidly, you’ll not obtain a clear or straight line. When chopping alongside the grain, the knife can journey within the grain relatively than alongside the supposed line. Utilizing mild strokes and a number of passes over the identical line is very vital right here. Protecting the knife perpendicular to the wooden is vital as properly. This ensures that the sides shall be sq. to the face and the seams will come collectively cleanly. A steel ruler can also be helpful for chopping straight strains.

Curved cuts may be made with scissors or a knife. When utilizing both, be sure that to maintain the software perpendicular to the wooden or the veneer will break aside. I minimize my items on a chopping mat, however you can even use a recent piece of plywood as a backing board beneath the veneer.

Assembling the sample

Visualize the picture. Enable your self time to rearrange the items in a manner that’s pleasing to the attention. Laying an already minimize form over an uncut sheet lets you assess many prospects. When you’ve discovered the most effective placement, tape the 2 items collectively.

Minimize and tape in place. Utilizing the piece you’ve already minimize as a information, minimize alongside the sting, making a clear seam. As you close to a chunk of tape, carry it, proceed chopping, and restick the tape. After ending the minimize, flip the meeting and stretch tape throughout the seam, permitting the stretchiness of the tape to shut it.

After I’ve minimize the biggest items to form, I begin to add medium-size elements. I take advantage of items with bigger grain patterns for the larger areas as a result of it shows their magnificence. I wait so as to add smaller items of veneer with tighter grain. I’m additionally conscious of grain path when laying out a panel. Putting two items subsequent to one another with alternating grain provides the panel distinction and chatoyance.

Make the following minimize. Working from the entrance once more, go on to the following minimize. As ever, you’ll want to maintain your knife perpendicular to the veneer.Since I don’t plan out an summary design forward of time, I experiment with the structure at this stage. I take the biggest items, which I’ve already minimize to form, and lay them on prime of medium-size items. Some layouts will come collectively rapidly, whereas others will take time earlier than I believe they’re balanced and exquisite. As soon as I discover a structure that I like, I connect the items with blue tape, then begin chopping.

Construct the sample as you go. With the primary two items joined, you’ll be able to add a 3rd. Tape in a number of locations to assist maintain veneer for correct chopping.

Lay a formed piece on prime of a chunk that you really want subsequent to it, and use a number of strips of tape to safe them. Slowly minimize across the prime piece, utilizing its edge as a information for the knife. If you get to a chunk of tape, carry it, minimize beneath it, after which press it again down, ensuring the veneers don’t shift. When doubtful, use extra tape.

As soon as the minimize is completed, go away the tape on the entrance and flip the veneers over; set the waste piece apart. To completely shut the seam, press tape on one facet after which pull and stretch the tape over the seam. Stretching the tape will add rigidity and pull the seam tight, very similar to a butterfly bandage. You don’t want tape on each inch of the seam, however be sure that most of it’s lined. Then flip the veneers once more and take away the tape from the entrance.

Reinforce the again. Keep in mind to tape the again of the panel as you’re employed by means of the method. This tape shall be eliminated later previous to glue-up.As soon as the massive and medium elements are assembled, I add smaller items. The smaller the piece, the upper the prospect of breaking off quick grain. To keep away from this, I tape the again of the veneer earlier than chopping. If a bit of piece does break off whereas chopping, I can simply put one other one as a replacement. Typically persons are intimidated with how fragile veneer may be, however it’s also simple to restore.

As soon as the panel is totally minimize, the entrance shall be uncovered and the again may have a number of layers of overlapping tape. Lay strips of tape over your entire entrance, butted subsequent to one another however not overlapping. Little gaps are positive, however overlapping tape will trigger uneven stress throughout glue-up. As soon as the entrance is roofed you’ll be able to flip over the meeting and take away all of the layers of tape from the again. Watch out to not pull out small fibers. Take an excellent have a look at each inch of your venture. In the event you discover a big hole, you’ll be able to minimize one other piece of veneer to fill it, ensuring the grain goes in the identical path.

Gluing to the substrate

As soon as your design is full, you’re prepared for the glue-up. This step can really feel hectic as a result of there are issues that may go incorrect. Nevertheless, there are a number of steps you’ll be able to take to assist guarantee that you’ve an excellent glue-up.

The even layer of tape over the entrance of the venture prevents items from transferring round through the glue-up course of. I take advantage of PVA wooden glue as a result of there’s water in it, and the moisture will swell the fibers. If there are slight gaps between the seams, the glue can generally pull these collectively. Additionally do not forget that in case you are utilizing wooden with distinction, a small hole within the seam just isn’t going to be apparent, and your eye will journey over it.

Clamps and cauls are important for an excellent glue-up. When doubtful, use extra clamps than you want. For a small panel, you should utilize a sheet of plywood alone as a caul; add thick solid-wood cauls for bigger panels. A plastic sheet simply bigger than the panel will forestall it from sticking to the cauls. And a framing mat between the plastic sheet and the cauls will present even stress throughout the panel. When working with industrial veneer, totally different species can have barely totally different thicknesses. Framing mats are thick sufficient to compress and create even stress, and they are often discovered at any body store or craft retailer.

It’s vital to steadiness the venture by gluing a sheet of veneer to the again facet of your substrate. Having veneer on only one facet would permit an uneven quantity of air and moisture in and trigger the piece to warp.

All the time observe a dry glue-up earlier than placing any glue on the panel. Prep all your supplies, and clamp up the panel to ensure every part goes easily through the precise course of.

With the marquetry sample, you’ll want to apply glue to the substrate and never the veneer, as a result of when you unfold glue throughout the veneer seams, there’s a likelihood fibers may be pulled out. Be sure to cowl each inch of the substrate with glue. Use an excellent quantity of glue, however not a lot that while you maintain it upright it drips. I take advantage of a veneer scrap to evenly distribute glue over your entire floor. Wrap 4 or 5 items of tape across the fringe of the bundle so the substrate doesn’t slide when clamped. The larger the panel, the extra cauls and clamps you will want. Depart the piece clamped up for roughly 8 hours.

Fastidiously sand your panel

After you’re taking the piece out of the clamps, pull off the plastic sheet after which the tape from the entrance of the panel. Take away the tape slowly and delicately to keep away from pulling out any fibers. In the event you do occur to take away a chunk of veneer, dab a small quantity of glue, press the piece again in place, and tape it down.

Industrial veneer is skinny, so you will need to sand fastidiously. I begin with 120-grit utilizing a sanding block, or a palm sander for bigger panels. I sand calmly, solely till the surplus glue is eliminated, then work my manner by means of larger grits. I take advantage of 120, 220, after which a grey Scotch-Brite pad.

Veneer can fluctuate in thickness and density, and sure species are simpler to sand by means of than others. Know what to search for when sanding. A darkish spot might simply be a knot that doesn’t want extra sanding, however whether it is subsequent to a seam, it may be glue that isn’t absolutely sanded but. If a unique shade begins to indicate, that would imply the wooden is about to be sanded by means of. Cease sanding in that space. Take it gradual, sand a bit of bit, after which examine the veneer.

You’ll inevitably sand cross-grain as you’re employed, and it will present up in sure species greater than others. You may return over these areas with 220-grit to mix scratches. Keep in mind that nothing is ever going to be excellent, and there are numerous options to altering a panel you don’t like, or beginning over with a model new picture. There may be at all times stress and satisfaction in a fantastically crafted piece, however I really like a few of my “imperfect” ones simply as a lot, if no more.

Chelsea Van Voorhis is a veneer artist and designer in New Orleans.

From Tremendous Woodworking #315 To view your entire article, please click on the View PDF button under.

Video: Marquetry in movement

Look over Craig Thibodeau’s shoulder, and watch him assemble a marquetry panel. He makes it look simple.

Veneer by means of a lens of affordability and enjoyable

Chelsea Van Voorhis reveals how easy, accessible, and most significantly, how enjoyable working with veneer may be.

Getting began with veneer

No earlier information of wooden is required–solely an understanding that each grain takes on distinctive traits.

View PDF