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Veneering Raised Panel Doors

Making a raised panel with veneer, part two...

Veneered raised panels

 Once removed from the bag, and all veneer tape has been removed, leave the moisture escape for a couple days, while having the panels stickered on a flat surface. Then the faces can be shaped, sanded, or filled, as needed. 

One important thing to note when shapng panels, or boards: Always shape or rout cross grain first. In the photo shown, it would be the top and botom of the door. The reason for this is cross grain is far more likely to tear out sections of the wood or veneer. Any tear out on the ends of the panels, (most likely area to tear), will be removed when you shape with the grain. Also, making shallow cuts is a necessity. I don't know what would happen, were you to try to mold the edge in one pass, but I suspect you wouldn't try it twice.

We also start the fininshing process prior to gluing up the stiles and rails. This will prevent any color descrepencies, should there be any movement of the panel, within the fame. If these doors were constructed out of solid wood, shrinkage would show the areas of the panels that weren't stained prior to finishing. The third photo shows the back side of the door panel. Normally, this would have veneer on it as well to help keep the panel from warping. Since this is a fixed panel and will be screwed on from the back, it does not require backing veneer.

This is one of the few times a backing veneer is not required. In almost all other instances, a backer veneer is required, although we would typically use a lesser cost veneer, intead of a crotch veneer. (unless the client is willing to foot the cost, and really insists upon it. (I'm not a big fan of using a rare veneer on the back of the door).

The fourth photo shows a stained panel, with a light coat of sealer. The sealer was done since the stiles and rails will be stained slightly darker than the panels, and it will permit any stain on the panel to be wiped off.

In the next installment we'll cover the installation of the finished door.

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