Veneered furniture generally has a shiny and elegant appearance.
The work done with sheets is called veneer . A sheet metal, meanwhile, is a metal sheet, made of wood or another material , characterized by its thin thickness.
Veneer or veneer
Plating is the action and result of veneering or plating : that is, of covering with veneers . A veneer, in this context, can be a coating developed with veneers.
When it is indicated that something is or is veneered, it means that it is covered or covered with veneer . It is interesting to note that, in the field of carpentry , a thin sheet of wood that is manufactured with a special machine and is used for veneer is called veneer.
Veneer sheets can have different characteristics and colors . Although long ago it used to be considered that veneered furniture was a poor quality product, it is now understood that veneers can contribute to the decoration and durability of the piece.
When made with real wood, veneer can improve the appearance of a piece of furniture made from another material, even if it is just a sheet . Chests of drawers, tables and cabinets are among the most common veneered furniture. It is usually adhered to the structure using a special glue . Thus, once applied, it allows you to obtain a solid-looking piece of furniture at a reduced cost.
Materials and tools
- Wood Veneers – Thin sheets of natural wood used to cover the surface of furniture. They can be of different types and finishes to achieve particular styles and colors;
- Adhesive : A strong and suitable adhesive is required to bond the veneers to the surface of the furniture. Common ones include hot melt and resin;
- cutting and flattening tools : saws, blades and planes are used to cut and flatten the veneers before applying them;
- adhesive application : rollers , pinceles o pistolas de glue caliente pueden utilizarse para aplicar el adhesivo a la superficie del mueble y a las chapas;
- Presses : These are used to exert uniform pressure on the veneers adhered to the furniture while the adhesive dries.
Plating process
To carry out plating, it is necessary to have the tools just listed. Surface preparation is crucial; It must be clean, dry and free of impurities that could affect adhesion. Once the veneers are cut and flattened, the adhesive is applied to the surface of the furniture and the back of the veneers. Depending on the type chosen, drying time may be needed before proceeding.
The veneers are carefully placed on the surface of the furniture, avoiding the formation of bubbles or wrinkles. They are gently pressed to ensure a proper bond. The furniture is then placed in a press to apply uniform pressure for a set period of time. This allows the adhesive to work properly and eliminates any air spaces.
Once pressing is complete, excess veneer edges are trimmed and finishing is performed to even out the surfaces and create a uniform appearance . The furniture veneer process requires skill and precision as it seeks to achieve high-quality results. This technique is used in the manufacturing of fine, custom products to achieve the look of real wood at a potentially lower cost than using solid wood alone.
Since veneer is cheaper than solid wood, it is found in many products from large furniture chains.
chaff veneer
The so-called tamo plating , finally, is a traditional artisanal procedure from southern Colombia. The technique consists of using sheets made of wheat, rice or barley straw to cover plates, chests, cups and other objects.