Mold for vacuum veneering

[Garnet Foster]

Anyone know anything about building molds for vacuum veneering? One side or two sided. Whats best?
I'm working on building a laminated chair.

[Todd Burch]

For one, your mold has to withstand the pressures placed upon it by atmospheric pressure. I have had excellent results using solid MDF. No flexing, no crushing and cheap.

[Richard Wolf]

Garnet, You must keep in mind that the vacuum press does not bend the laminations for you, it is only a clamping device. I know someone is going to say differently and you may get away with it sometimes but your pieces should be close to their final postion before you start the vacuum. So to answer your question is hard, sometimes you many need a 2 part form, sometimes you don't.

Richard

[Keith Christopher]

Certian materials and bent laminations can be done in a press if they are thin enough. however most of the time a good form built from MDF and good clamping pressure is all you need. once you make the structure you can place the form with a caul into the press and apply a veneer to the structure. This is how I would proceed.


1) Create a form from MDF.
a) be sure and create a top and bottom of the form to sandwich the laminations.
2) once dry trim up the edges to final dimensions
3) apply veneer to top and place form into the press for final glue-up


Keith