cutting veneer

[opticsguy]

Really enjoy my mill and often think to try new things.  Today, was cutting some spaulted alder and decided to cut a 1/16"  "slab".  The first sheet was almost perfect, the second sheet, the blade cut through in a few spots, possibly due to a thinner cut or possibly due to some very slight waves in the previous cut.  All in all, very impressed with the possibilities.  More experimentation is needed.

Wondering if others are cutting veneer and what blades they use?   I am thinking a slower feed would also provide a smoother surface.

I am not in the market to sell lumber or veneer but might look at this down the road.  So, what is the market for veneer?

[j_d]

Hey I am new here but have read a bit about this.  Commercial veneer is actually cut with a blade that is like a knife, not a saw.  The log is treated/soaked to make it soft and then layers are sliced off (think potato).  There is practically no waste with this process.  With a saw, even with a small kerf you are wasting as much as you are getting. 

Now having said all that I see no reason you couldn't make your own and glue it up.  It might take some trial and error but I can't think of a reason it couldn't be done.  I actually have someone who wants a thin enough slice from a log to roll it for a craft project he has in mind.  I plan on getting him when I am sawing the right log for it. 

So, try it and remember to post pics.   :laugh:

[Kbeitz]

Hummmm.....
Another thing for me to try.....

[drobertson]

On occasions I have to make a trim cut,  this happened yesterday while sawing out some 7/8" thick boards, I guess I got goofed up on the patterns because I had one board that was an 1"  with the stack I have going I just wanted them all the same, so I trimmed the heavy one back down.  I had to chuckle because the ole motto an old friend use to say when at the mill would be "thin as a dime, every time"  I took this quick pic not planning on posting it but since you asked, here ya go,


  
this one is 1/16". 

 
I've done a few back a few years ago for a guy, his wife was experimenting with making crafts, It works, sort of
they dry out and crack, but again I've never glued one down to see a finish product.

[scsmith42]

I cut veneer with a dedicated horizontal resaw and a .035 thick carbide tipped band.  The bands cost close to $300.00 each, but the cut quality is superb.

[GAB]

Using a 4* blade I've sawed some 5/16" and 5/32" thick cherry for a fellow for Shaker boxes.  He was impressed as to how uniform the material was.
I've also sawed some 1/2" thick yellow birch for paneling.
Gerald

[redprospector]

I used to make my business cards from "veneer" I had cut. I'd sand it down smooth with a RO sander, and then put a thin coat of poly to kinda seal it, cut them to size on a table saw and chop saw, then use the rubber stamp I had made with my info, and finish with poly. They looked really good. The only problem is that I live in a tourist trap uh, town. and the majority of the cards I put out were scarfed up by tourist who never came back through, and never used my services.
Paper cards are much easier, and tourist aren't attracted to them.  ;D