One for the woodworkers out there

[chris p]

I'm looking to make some MDF speaker cabs look much prettier. Does anyone have any experience / thoughts on the "iron on" wood veneers?

Any guidance on sourcing would also be mucho appreciated.

[Senad]

Hi chris,
The only iron-on veneer I've done is the edging on a self-built plywood desk, just to hide the "sandwich" looking edges of the ply. It turned out nice and held together until I moved out of the place. THe veneer tape was a tiny bit wider than the actual thickness of the ply, but that was sorted by trimming it with a stanly knife and fine-filing it down. After staining and varnishing it, you couldn't tell that it wasn't all one piece of wood.
Hope this helps

[Alastair Reynolds]

I did a large MDF cabinet for a Fane 15" many years ago and used a Teak iron on Veneer (Well I got someone more experience than me to do it) but the result was very good. I keep up the Beeswax etc and look after it and it still looks great and the 3/4 " MDF carcass gives an excellent density and rigidity .
I would say yes go for it, buy a good quality veneer,just take your time and you'll get a really good result.

[chris p]

Thanks for the replies - certainly sounds like its worth a go.

[jkhuri44]

hi chris, any reason not to use regular veneer with liquid cement? besides the extra step?

[chris p]

Me and glue don't have the best relationship. Its Lennon / McCartney - started strong but we developed creative differences, mostly around who owns my fingers.

I may consider an Eagles-esque reunion ....

[jkhuri44]

rofl, i thought it was a good idea to use Tarzans Grip glue without gloves once....
that shit is impossible to wash off....even before drying..talk about panic. hahahaha
but seriously, that taught me to always wear gloves i think you'll get a longer lasting contact with liquid cement.
imo anyway.

[graemeh]

Just be careful that the iron is perfectly clean - you don't want to wreck expensive veneer and all your prep work by ironing on some impossible to remove gunk. I speak from experience here! I always whack a sheet of clean paper down and iron through that onto the veneer. Then burnish it down with a block of wood to further bond it. Always do a test the first time. AND make sure the particle board or whatever you're using as a base is dust free. Should look great in the end!