Mahogany crotch, macassar ebony, madrone burl, fiddleback
English sycamore. These are but a few of the hundreds of fine veneers being
specified for the very finest residential and corporate interiors today. From
color consistency and sequence matching to dimensional stability and wide
species selection, the use of veneer offers woodworkers a unique design freedom
not available with solid wood. Although veneer has adorned much of the finest
furniture found in museums around the world, veneer fell out of favor with the
introduction of mass produced inexpensive furniture. Veneer became associated
with cheap low quality construction. One dictionary defined veneer as a
"deceptive or superficial outward show" and veneering as a method "to conceal
with an attractive but superficial appearance" and "to gloss over."
Today the use of veneer is once again taking its rightful
place as the premium choice for fine furniture and high end custom interiors
across the country. Woodworkers are expected to be well-versed in the use of
veneer. Many shops are finding that veneering capacity is a must, giving them
the competitive edge which in the future may be the difference between success
or failure
Vacuum Technology
The principles of vacuum
technology are simple. Atmospheric pressure is very heavy; we have over
a ton per square foot pressing upon us at sea level. Luckily, we have an
equal amount of internal pressure to keep us from being crushed. When
the air molecules are removed from a container - even in small amounts -
atmospheric pressure immediately becomes evident.
When air is removed from a closed vacuum bag
containing a veneering project, two things happen. First, as the vacuum
is created, atmospheric pressure bears down on the work inside the bag
with perfect uniformity and enormous pressure. Second, as air is drawn
out of the cells in the surface structure of the wood, glue is sucked
into these cells. The results are dependable and consistent.
Vacuum Pressing Systems offers two types of laminating
systems. The "Bag" system which completely envelops the work, and the
"Frame" system with a hinged lid that drops down over the panel being
pressed Bag & Frame Systems
Bag System - Versatility
Flat veneered panels, curved doors, arched
jams, shaped parts, cylinders, spiral staircases. When it comes to
veneering and forming no other method is as versatile as a bag
system. Our tough yet flexible bags will conform to almost any
shape. When the pressing process is finished, simply roll up the bag
and put the VacuPress away. Designed for easy, compact storage the
bag system is a must for the space conscious shop |
Frame System - Accessibility
When repetition and accessibility are
priorities the FlipTop VacuPress is the answer. Designed for quick
and easy access, the frame system is ideal for the shop which
presses flat and low profile curved work more frequently - and can
afford dedicated space for the frame table. The FlipTop brings a new
level of speed and convenience to the vacuum process. |
Curved Work -- Inside & Outside Techniques
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Once you have used the VacuPress you
will agree that there never really was a practical way to veneer
curved shapes. Gone are the frustrating hours of trying to perfectly
mate male and female forms, and striving to wrap shaped pieces with
veneer. For curved work the VacuPress bag system is used in two
ways. With the "inner technique" the form and laminations are slid
into the bag. (See illustration)
With the "outside technique" only the laminations are placed inside
the bag. The form stays outside (See illustration, right).This
second technique is commonly used when the form is too large to go
inside the bag without difficulty. Instead, the craftsman brings the
laminations to the shape of the form. The VacuPress clamps all the
laminations to each other, eliminating all but a few clamps |
Example of outside
technique used in construction
of a spiral staircase
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