The
Complete Manual of Wood Veneering
by William A Lincoln
Softcover
150 x 230mm
400pp
Published by Stobart Davies, Hertford, UK
R.R.P.$39.90
ISBN 0-85442-040-1
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 43
There are very few books available on wood veneering and perhaps one of the reasons that few people are prepared to write about this craft is the poor image veneering has in the minds of the general public. As the author of The Complete Manual of Wood Veneering, William Lincoln, laments, even in Roman times veneering was derided as a way of making cheap timbers appear to be of better quality.
Despite the obvious use of veneering to improve the appearance of cheap products, many of the prized pieces of furniture from past centuries are veneered and are so for good reason. Solid timber is prone to warping and splitting and for many furniture uses composite timber materials such as plywood are more practical and durable. Also, many of the world's most beautiful timbers are too brittle, too soft or even too scarce to be considered for use in solid form in furniture. These woods are only usable in large items as veneers. Notwithstanding these practical advantages of using wood veneers, the matching and laying out of the veneer sections creates patterns and effects not otherwise possible.
This manual starts with a history of veneers and an explanation of how veneers are cut and processed. Tools, adhesives, veneer patterns and matching and veneering methods are discussed at length. Marquetry and parquetry - two of the specialised forms of veneering - are briefly covered. The finishing, repair and restoration of veneers are then described. Ten different veneering projects are included to allow readers to try out for themselves the information and advice contained in the book.
William Lincoln is obviously keenly interested in veneering and in this one book has tried to cover as much of the subject as possible. Anyone who is at all interested in veneering will not be disapointed by the wealth of information presented.
Photos: Black & White
Contents
Dedication
Passer by
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: A look at the past
Chapter
2: From the tree to you
Definition
Descriptions & Dimensions
How
a tree grows
Chapter
3: The Grain & Figure of Veneers
The grain
Types of figure
Reaction
wood
Chapter
4: How Veneers are Cut
Decorative veneers
The cutting process
Constructional
veneers
Harewood
Dyed veneers
Chapter
5: Measuring and Storing Veneers
Veneer defects
Storage and Flatting
Chapter
6: Tools & Clamps
Knives & Tools
Clamps and clamping
Chapter
7: Workshop Equipment and Veneer Presses
Equipment
Veneer presses
Hot presses
Production presses
Chapter
8: Low Voltage Heating
Radio frequency heating
Chapter 9: Substrates
Chapter
10: Shaped Groundwork & Wood Bending
Shaped groundwork
Wood bending
Timbers for wood bending
Laminated veneer bending
Cauls and tambours
Chapter 11: Adhesives
Chapter 12: Tapes & Taping
Chapter
13: Veneer Matching
Utility matching
Decorative
matching
Single leaf match
Slip match
Inverted slip match
Book
match
Slip and turn match
Four piece book match
The diamond match
Alternative centre diamond match
Reverse diamond match
Reverse book match
Alternating squares match
Harlequin squares match
Herringbone matching
Irregular matching
Sunburst matching
Checkered matching
Chapter
14: Inlay bandings, Lines, Stringings & Motifs
Application
Cutting
and inlaying
Making inlay bandings
Inlay motifs
Chapter
15: Marquetry
Fretsaw cutting
Knife cutting
Shading veneers
Chapter
16: Parquetry
Veneer mosaic
Oyster parquetry
Chapter
17: Edge lippings & Facings
The scratch stock
Chapter
18: Laying Flat Panels
Preparation
Hammer veneering
Iron-on veneering
Contact veneering
Caul veneering
Chapter
19: Shaped Veneering
Improvised presses
Compound tailoring
Chapter 20: Preparing & Repairing of Veneers
Chapter
21: Veneered Panelling
Veneer matching
Battening
Substrates
Fire
prevention
Jointing and working sequence
Chapter
22: Preparation for Finishing
Effect of light
The workroom
Sanding
Stopping
Grain fillers
Chapter
23: Repair & Restoration
Repair and restoration of the finish
Repair
or renewal of veneers
Repair and renovation of groundwork
Chapter
24: Veneering Projects for you to Make
Laminated veneer 'cubby boxes'
Butler's tray: two piece book match
Table top: four piece book match
Chessboard
Backgammon board
Modern parquetry wall clock
Sunburst 16 piece slip-match
wine table top
Sunburst 16 piece book-match dining table top
Regency reproduction
curl mahogany door and drawer unit
Pair modern wardrobe doors with herringbone
reverse butt matching
Chapter
25: Nomenclature
Techniques of identification
Availability and collector's
sets
Appendix
A: Two Hundred & Fifty wood veneers properties
Appendix B: 24 groups to
aid colour selection
Glossary of Technical Terms
Bibliography
Index