Expert: Greg Scholl - 1/4/2011

Question
We applied a birch veneer to a convex cabinet side.  Applied veneer with a red contact cement.  After it was dried and sanded, we applied a black conversion varnish.  The exterior sides seem to have ripples in it.  Is there any possibility that the conversion varnish interacted with the red contact cement?

Answer
Hey Skip, in my experience, it sounds more like the veneer and the contact cement...it's very difficult to get a smooth application of a thin wood veneer on a radius panel like that with contact cement, and if you don't, all those little ripples and high/low points of the veneer will show up. A vacuum press and a PVA type glue would give you a smooth radius, depending on the substrate, but without that type of system, and instead,...the use of a contact cement.... it's almost impossible to apply veneer in a perfectly smooth manner over a radius substrate, (except a plastic laminate, or similar, hard, smooth material) ....remember light is the enemy when it comes to seeing imperfections. A flat wall paint will hide many evils...but the glossier you get the MORE that it reflects/refracts and starts to show everything if lit well. Take a floor standing lamp,or a powerful flashlight and shine it right down the wall, as parallel as possible to the surface and then step back and look, you'll see every nail, drywall seam and repair, brush strokes, etc...  Also it's worth mentioning that many 1/4" plywoods, especially the imported (and way more than we pay attention to), are inferior, cheaply made with sometimes questionable species and relative humidity content, then they're put in a steel container, strapped to the Deck, and taken on a cross Continent, sea journey....many convex cabinet sides are made up with a 1/4" plywood bent around the radius...and veneering this substrate will telegraph a less than smooth surface as well...something like Masonite would be smoothest...I guess my question is why it was desirable to veneer this if it was to be sprayed Black? Post back- regards- Greg