3D veneering

[Jamie Buxton]

We've occasionally talked about 3D veneering on this site. (By 3D veneering, I mean making a veneered shape that's domed or bowl-like.) We (me included) have said it can't really be done. Perhaps a better answer is that it can't be done with tools and techniques available in a small shop. Here's a link to an outfit that makes furniture with a 3D veneering process: http://www.danishdesignstore.com/products/gubi-chair-by-komplot-designer-komplot-design . The technology for it comes from a German company called Reholz: http://www.reholz.de/ As best I can understand, the veneer is somehow modified so that it is stretchable, and then it can be pressed into these odd shapes. Dunno if there's a retail source for the stretchable veneer in the US.

[David Thompson 27577]

We've occasionally talked about 3D veneering on this site. (By 3D veneering, I mean making a veneered shape that's domed or bowl-like.) We (me included) have said it can't really be done. Perhaps a better answer is that it can't be done with tools and techniques available in a small shop. Here's a link to an outfit that makes furniture with a 3D veneering process: http://www.danishdesignstore.com/products/gubi-chair-by-komplot-designer-komplot-design . The technology for it comes from a German company called Reholz: http://www.reholz.de/ As best I can understand, the veneer is somehow modified so that it is stretchable, and then it can be pressed into these odd shapes. Dunno if there's a retail source for the stretchable veneer in the US.

When I worked in the automotive industry, I spent quite a lot of time in the factory that makes cockpits (dashboards) for the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa Ala. As you might know, such vehicles have lots of real wood (burl was rather common) in the dash and center console.

And most of those pieces were three dimensional -- they fit the compound curves of the dash, and had edges that "dove back" into the vinyl/leather surfaces. I talked to one of the purchasing guys to see if he was aware of the process. He said that multiple plys were steam or heat pressed, then glued together. The pressing was (apparently) done in a three dimensional die.

Like you said -- not the kind of process that lends itself to small-quantity production.

[Brad Shipton]

Jamie, there was a good article in Furniture and Cabinet Making (UK publication) a few months ago that got me looking into it. The guys below sell in North America, but I did not have much luck contacting them via email. Maybe if you give them a call. I was interested to get an idea how expensive it is.

http://www.danzergroup.com/3D-veneers.2860.0.html

Brad