Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Other Technical Questions... => Topic started by: JayDee on October 16, 2008, 01:53:19 pm

Title: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: JayDee on October 16, 2008, 01:53:19 pm

Hello,

Been looking at Iron on Wood Veneers, seems a good way of doing a posh job for decks and Cabins, only 0.6 mm thick, with adhesive on the back, lots of different Woods to choose from.
Has anybody used this stuff ??, no clues in the Adverts as to preparing the surface to be veneered, I would think it will take Varnish and/or Stains OK, but will it stay on ?.

Spoke to a chap who had used it to "do" an Office, in big panels, he reckoned it was all right, but offices don't sail very well !!.
He used to cut it to size with a well sharpened Stanley Knife, so cutting it into planks should not be a problem.
An ordinary electric Iron was used to fix it in place, with a large Ally plate, like a Plasterers Trowel to help cool it down.

The prices are OK, about 12 pounds for a roll 10 inches wide, by 98 inches long, BUT, will it stay on ????????????????.

John.  ::)  ::)  ::)
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: andrewh on October 16, 2008, 03:53:42 pm
John,

I've used it for the very reasons you say - real tree wood with hot-melt adhesive on the back
 Used it on steam launches for very curved coamings, etc and cut into narrow strips to cover curved capping rails.  Also to laminate static airscrews interleaved with balsa!

The wood I picked was "mahogany" so it was reddish, with a coarse grain - I might have done better generally with a northern softwood - birch or similar and resorted to stain where necessary.

I've used it to "plate" styrene for the bridge of a puffer  (then distressed it something rotten)

No problems with adhesion, or life

Interested to see how anyone else finds it!
andrew
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: JayDee on October 16, 2008, 04:05:26 pm

 Andrew,

I am going to buy a Balsa Stripper, to cut the veneer into 3/16 inch wide planks, 10 inches long.
Do you think the veneer would cut down to such a small width?.
Can you see any problems in using such small width planks, or have you always used much wider ones?.

The deck on my J Class boat should have Pine planks on it, but Pine looks too coarse a grain at the scale of the boat.
I may use Ash veneer, which is much finer grained, more in keeping with the scale of the boat, then stain it to suit.

Engineers Again !!.

John. :-))
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: Peterm on October 16, 2008, 04:20:32 pm
I mentioned this before.   I use planking that I get from `Dolls Domain`, a dolls house shop.   It comes in various widths and has a self adhesive backing.   Pete M
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: andrewh on October 16, 2008, 04:35:50 pm
John
Should be no problem strippping it down to 3/16,  - I have taken it down to 1/16 (and some of the cheap ones are made from parallel 1mm strips!)

Did you see my quick and nasty (cack-anded engineers0 stripper for thin stuff?
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/higgins%2078foot/DSC04015.jpg)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/higgins%2078foot/DSC04016.jpg)
Replace the fence (made from starbucks stirrer0 with 2 pins and it follows gunwales and other curved edges, too!

Are you a Fleetwood sailor, or near there?  I stayed with friends near the boat lake recently - feels like a land of fresh breezes!
andrew
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: JayDee on October 16, 2008, 05:01:05 pm


Andrew,

Thanks a lot for the info, when I read what I had posted about BUYING a balsa stripper, even I didn't believe it !!.

John.  :-))  :-))  :-))
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: andrewh on October 16, 2008, 05:03:08 pm
John,

Sorry,  I'm a Scot, not familiar with "Buy" - is that like exchanging money for things?
andrew
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: JayDee on October 16, 2008, 08:16:31 pm


Andrew,

How did you prepare the surfaces which were to be Veneered?, mine will be going onto the Deck, on 1/16 inch ply, would it need to be varnished, or just iron the Veneer onto the bare wood?.

The deck is over 6 feet long, so I definitely don't want to have to do it twice !!.
Did your narrow planks shrink or swell out at all, when they were ironed on, if they do change size, I will have to allow for it when marking things out.

An easy way to do the deck would be two Huge planks each 6 inches wide, straight down the middle, but it wouldn't look right !!.

John.  ok2
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: balders on November 17, 2008, 10:53:40 pm
Hi,
  Just come across your article and it is somrething I would like to puchase,particularly in wider pieces.Can you offer any web addresses or companiesthat you have dealt with and is it expensive.

Regards Andy(BALDERS)
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: JayDee on November 17, 2008, 11:41:36 pm


Hello Andy,

Not bought any Veneer yet, but will do in the future, seems a good way of getting real wood AND adhesive.
The addy I have been looking at is ---    http://www.woodveneeruk.co.uk
Prices are very reasonable too.
Let me know how you get on if you buy any !!.

Very Best Regards,
John.
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: barryfoote on November 18, 2008, 07:57:42 am
Just caught up with this one.

A word of caution with veneers. Over a period of time they have a tendancy to lift at the edges, particularly if they get wet. You must ensure that all the adhesive melts when applying and then plenty of varnish to seal the edges....

Barry
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: Bryan Young on November 18, 2008, 05:55:43 pm
It is good stuff. But it is meant for furniture therefore the grain is really too pronounced to look realistic on a model boat/ship. It does take polish or varnish well. I guess it depends on the scale of your model. On my "Bluebird of Chelsea" at 1:12 scale I used a "non-iron-on" veneer that has a backing to prevent splintering, and choosing the right bit to use put the grain size/pattern just about right for the scale. BY.
Title: Re: "Iron on" Wood Veneers
Post by: Wasyl on June 01, 2009, 11:16:11 am
You also get 15mm,+ 18mm wide wood veneer on a roll from most Kitchen,unit, suppliers,and it comes in various wood finishes,i.e.oak,maple,mahogany,beech,teak,and they also do wood fillers to match the various woods,

Wullie