Veneering an "L" shaped desktop question

[Robin Carbone]

I'm in the process of fabricating a new top for a cherry"L" shaped desk and hoping for some solid advice or ideas. The top will be mdf with a 2-ply quatersawn cherry veneer and hardwood cherry edging.The top will be 1 piece and my issue comes with the inside corner and the edge profile I'm cutting. I'm having a problem with the right approach because I want to veneer the piece (including the hardwood edge) then route the profile.This will leave me a crisp edge without the 2 products and a glue line showing on the same plane. The profile is a bit detailed so I’m not sure how well my limited skills with a gouge and v-tool will work out if I router as far as Ican into the corner.

I've been doing allot of research and wondered if anyone tried a worktop jig (common for joining counters) for this purpose. It would allow me to create 2 pieces for the top then cut the joint and use worktop clamps/biscuits to bring them together.


If I don’t go with a 2 piece idea I have another question as to how join the veneer with a 45 degree or butt to end grain, and the complexities of both. Either would be esthetically fine but I assume either way I would need to use a veneer saw for a good glue edge, and the 45 would produce a good deal of waste.


Attached are a few pictures to help explain a bit more. Any advice or hints would be greatly appreciated!

Using a worktop jig and profile example

[John TenEyck]

I built a set of 3 TV cabinets a few years ago, like shown below.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Twjac4WoK1hlSP6-XbEr1rgnIMTwwlnP1ogR1fSCUkWjsc_dfIukP88C_uaUGvjLlV he2FVzFIiFxfoztDkjrs0xOjz4ucf5RZqAKEEe2uKd3Ie1kPB8 u9no_eCD2YXFWZ0ldG6QvBq02GQ4ZcbSeQ1QnR2qxFg8pNTABA iDy9QcHUZZxXjIGJpStN-FI0_60_njyq9C8dkNcD1uv1d-eNqqC98L8fZ4bXcRptKR3-8jTbuCHoueXmd4gBbflacpf7MX-ZDXpTfBSOsUX_7aq30d0sr_assZTVhbEhK5htSUlDleT-isBHFWUIBUh0lvzvO2VsUlmGfEE2R1D6ncuzmMPnaNLFUsVDq3 9obykNkrDuZAcEsHpcq4NbAbgOG-xpOMv3A5nfv1XimGOrErpga_g5yvMcfLCxn2OlWw77YtnweLVB QPyni_ijueFSKSv2Dg5rN9mVeFfVcVq0Std_JYJemVBNVnhSDM c8SKnTq_-zmPh4QwZkZr1CXLSCO_OeRuf1o0gbacCUD19YLvJOGzVQrmtvu 2NR_9cQJpM_LQ-SeHjs9nIXO_FVHPMEIRGyhq-M6Y-5Zh0NVMXHTHLcIaJRi1Lsf0Xs6i0ITIFQZBVKTS6iBKmHzxdqn 6ghEoDHxIrheGwg=w655-h315-no

The solid wood edging has a profile on it. I joined the 3 sections of the top with Zipbolts.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4ccxhvr1F7TIFqB0N4zXnnshqW2HQJT3qAv9uRB_C957B5fH69 k9qdTY-m-xrviMcQsHNhyuqF5ICV6rQcCfHAgEGnY4CIOb4nKcdNLdXFbTO QB__9xWoyyVVd_YZkpSaufx4x7LPHUEPTq9FsDtfyL1C1F9cpn-709xdbXTOmtdJf8zPd3_9izYY24teyeonRgfA7lqubtJfXMNgt m3DtezlW5OGhAvpCChOZaGVetNcKLGo41wsN4kSED5eTBjswc4 UHXeeJ9a2k6yqkXEPNI38pOIcqD7IlirUmDMlMN-yUmVqMfcI3wgPmXTtUOhvjBTZwbyDi3yi9YIB4DlRJ1Zg8hLH4 AMwTNxO0bFCsxW_59PmyyBA-JkgVts1p2t49QlavfB_S7swqX2h3l77XsrIw0JN-1nM-4MMA6riePpP4Ti5BUGFGlydSZMFbTYMa_newWZBiL8QI7VA6pk heXLHCIXRk1HTi5nDt9BHUA61jY1abNd9j72rT42V15x2tnGeq 76HLWUCzxO6AQdJkQvYolTSk1vRpNdTB9EXL_BNKvmXoQDFp_y LW-Uu1-faTmhdrchVJoA5iCiPnEPDUDcwxyQXR3wKhvd6mo9Z605hqblY oVV=w838-h628-no

First I joined the top sections together. When you pull those Zipbolts up tight, it is rock solid.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gMpEfkzGsb0qsKi2ShmFd3y28QNo2qYEJzyo9AC1i8zN9-dqHcIjiIixuNpnT4Ryjq9cG_NvXi-RicJiUdgiyoqHkqTqiUbXHop-adueQHj7qhqsc4XtnRE6Pdaj5eM5USnLlPjJsfJg5fQ7Kr01oZ Yzuqkc4WTO2lhq5S93-uoeHbPpqZnZvBoVqcaISPeJJlKj44bEEb4H-0SECTRFf-Er7tiDcz2EQtWYXAWEkK85uAhUPXBpmdIO1lhKAxTZ3XW9cGOq C6jiINurG-VpvRFR_PwU3kXQIk8_mI37eZ3_niDHmZ8_CzrLPmboDfmI0loL 7kjwC5GFgrCN-C_1DtqnxG9YvY3Z6yYED7rkbpb8tW97-Z_SS1qYacywkt8j3dd5nHujjxvSv_uTcEpmmWiyqyhdBe3_ppI fCFNSG_zqcpSNPAG3hN_fc0zEqQ7XnfWlWpJxB9wDOjnp7X9XE ugFmji2vrmDf2mdyFMoQLmAKM_nr07Qi7KBLbe5jVM16xe83pz ndJYymivnJQAdR856BS4sWSD5EOjyh3Gd94HgpMyLYoe4FRM4Y 2qFxtAYgSor9TFZilly5BTcTjyhTNfN8LE-Ka1yvy0bV9dHQ_pZCEiSvbzP=w838-h628-no

Then I cut the molding to fit and attached it to the edge of the top panels with biscuits and pocket screws:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mH3QZFbWrmwlBx2-WaebcZYeb_0lpi5rWyv8r-BLYlBUylDckEL0_d2-Sx1cxdVIFaqi8ogL7Se_JtS6RJQCwUXx0_m7t_-mU4UfE2ayUxI5UFjdvfTFkp8uZ52KU4RCZtgqwMIx0nVvzbOZ2 b6l74eFAdjdnBNrlfhTFiZAuxBb3xt6MCmGIcLHncjToqXQ11I Uz67YFcefsdD4UoxeIUAsEV-rCn_Q9JA8pqdEoCXYYPI46BLXk1EplW2ZegDAfTEVsXqadamy5 rmDVnGNfvGL3--OvVTQTPqjdOjVFshUMIjUDWDWZixelk80TY1JPorsFC-XXp7eFM0sD1EctLclygkNLXOKupU3DC3HFrdrk1RooRc3ylnFE mh9UGrbC6uJDgZPM0x7NaGchy4gSEKgSC6z71CkAZuhgQRQnD6 mC6fmZSDnhE9tg1Aas9Q0pZzaEi-uqBlbSfw5ye0QkfEE_f0-OEnGr_3aJNcDqADJxVNkY8BuAraXjimPYOLKm9R9JD_YBvo0cV 0T12H5AhpDQ9a4KaEbPMqUArdx94qbYjLRUHyQwROrSsPDPk0t KFzm-pppqquzODoWcUPQxWWf6al9ofiMBH5FSDfH5sWgOxZLlGKw=w8 38-h628-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/k2Y3dwZvdrrE_z-lS4-g-W2wF68p8gaEkiP-dMLgpTkiZBVzB0vLgmPVvVl_mIzQ1-5-AZoIE994Qqwabx7wlEYi2pk2Ugez4LDCX0jOMENVoQaOAh0Hyv lAy74LRt_CMKT4iICjryUj7TjwxxF07kdWUfQHVQ-h51cDF7HGP6D3-1yBGq_KiqKJDdjBHjmaK37AphBRJKALzng9xw0LdUO-wdrepdZDkMgA9kFZgrjcHFFAr5TU6nMCayvywqsoaNmVyUG7j8 zJzKgs6DWtdpYCt7rN-lOBLsa3E6_pvbf66BUuMfmfMJBTHTpFTgGBD893k3NluLMfeDP u0DeSRJrfaEBr19EpQh5IrtcEvcVsWaPADouts-8Su4Da5Sk82zMVcFJ8r5lUuYsNeHci2hwvRXaAA7ph4pTMj5vZ Fz2CoR6b_GotrcR9oPX1FTz2VoMat8OuxgpwOY7LcuWQGFzu2E 4HjNjiHhpdYbB1_1VDH6BWXk_zZCU3P7UylPD51scUXV2qbLlz vedWx-7EymIBmOP31obUqybs8nEgYayhTNK08cvtI7Gq6qUPpVJvOw3-TU-wzQ97KLjOuJsBgUwScrbgPs1DWTzoe0rTI-NVgtrKJHGX=w838-h628-no

I would use two 90° pieces rather than cutting them at 45°. If you don't need to break it down for transport, like I did, I would glue the two pieces together with a piece of solid wood glued into a rabbet cut on the bottom of both pieces where they join. Then fit the molding to the glued up top with an easy to cut 45° angle on the inside ends.

John

[Chris Padilla]

I understand about limiting waste and wanting a crisp veneer to profile edge look but sometimes you just have to do that otherwise you severely over-complicate things.

MDF is pretty cheap so just cut it on the 45 and toss the leftover if you can't see a way to use it.

I think many people like to apply the veneer first, then add hardwood edging/profile. I have found great success adding the hardwood edging first and then veneer to the edge and then cut your profile. However, one caveat there is that my veneer was cut by yours truly and 1/16" thick and so it was a rather strong and thick for a veneer. Commercial veneers are going to be less than half that thickness and may not stand up to my method. But if there is a way to incorporate the veneer and hardwood edging INTO the profile, it ought to be well-hidden.

[Robin Carbone]

Thanks for getting back to me guys, much appreciated and John, the TV cabinets look great. I know veneering over both the mdf and hardwood edge will look the best so I think my only choice is joining 2 pieces. I like the look of the desktop utilizing the worktop jig (picture attached) and zipbolts. I'm pretty much a jig junkey so I going to see if I can come up with a homemade plan or may have to purchase one.

Thanks again...

Regards,
Robin