Veneering with an iron....maybe a stupid question

[Michael Donahue]

Hey folks. I've had some luck in the past on small veneering projects by using a clothes iron and Titebond 2. This worked well for the few pieces I did but I was wondering if this process would work for a bathroom vanity or medicine cabinet? Would it hold up or would a steamy bathroom or loosen the veneer? Hopefully my shower isn't hotter than a clothes iron but who knows! :D Could I maybe use Titebond 3? Also, there'd be plenty of finish on top so would that help make this idea work?

[Guy Germaine]

Personally, I wouldn't do it, but that's my opinion. I've done the iron method, but it would scare me on a bathroom project. I would use Unibond, or something similar, and a vacuum bag (but I have one). If you don't have one, this would be a good opportunity to tell LOYL that you need one, or you can't finish the vanity :D

[John Messinger]

I've tried it and the adhesive bled through in too many random places. Those areas would not take a finish and it looked bad. I have veneered with hide glue and a homemade veneer hammer. This will take a variety of stains, can be coated with epoxy, and it should last forever in a bathroom or boat hull.

[Jamie Buxton]

I tried ironing down veneer, but ran into difficulty with seams. I tape veneer leafs together with veneer tape to form larger sheets. Ironing them down made the seams to pull open.

[Richard M. Wolfe]

I've ironed down commericially made glue backed glue backed edge. Like John, I had problems with the glue bleeding through. It's probably like everything else - practice in knowing how hot to get the iron and how long to let it sit in one spot.

[David DeCristoforo]

This glue:

http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info.php?cPath=86_40&products_id=738

is designed specifically for the application you describe. I have used it often and can vouch for the fact that it is easy to use and works well. But any veneer in a very humid environment will be subject to "issues" regardless of the glue used.

[Chris Padilla]

I haven't used the glue that David used in his link above but I have used the same brand's (Better Bonds) cold press veneer glue (http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info.php?products_id=1319). However, I have a vacuum bag AND my project isn't going into a humid environment. So far so good with this glue. You might consider a plastic resin glue or this urea formaldehyde one (Better Bond Ultra Cat) (http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info.php?cPath=86_40&products_id=187). I have the Ultra Cat as well and it dries rock hard. Still, all these work best with a vacuum press.