Finishing for the wood veneered panel.

Finishing is the last step in a series of processes to make product from wood (veneer). The process of finishing to the veneer panels is very similar to the finishing process for solid wood panels. The stain and coating used and the finishing looked for the veneer panel are very much the same with the finishing for the solid wood panel. But however, the wood veneer and solid wood are different material, so there may be some differences properties between both of them that have to be considered in the finishing process 

• The finishing color.

Although the wood veneered panel can be finished in any color, the transparent color finish is the most proper color. The panel is layered with wood veneer since we want to get the wood look and the wood characters at the panel, then the finish should also enhance the beauty of the wood look of the veneer. The transparent finish is absolutely needed when the special exotic veneer is used and when the veneer is arranged in the special form and pattern. For the panel with special inlay veneer, then even the dark stain should be avoided since it may block and kill the special effect of the veneer setting. A transparent finish with light stain or without stain application and a good-quality clear coat is the most recommended finish for the inlay veneer. 

finishing for inlay veneer 

The solid color or opaque color will totally kill the beauty and the special look for the veneer. If the light paint is used to make a semi-transparent paint, then we may still be able to see the pattern of grain and pores of the wood. It still can be used to finish some veneered panels. But if the full closed solid color finish is needed, then we better use m.d.f. or particle board as the substrates. The m.d.f. and particle surface, which have no pores and grain, can be easier finished to make solid color.

• Porosity.

Wood veneer panel only has a thin layer of wood on the surface. Therefore, he tends to have bigger porosity and absorb more finishing material compared with the solid wood panel. If we finish the wood veneer and solid in combination in one-step finishing, then we may need to treat the veneer part differently. Avoid too much spray at the veneer part. If the glaze application is used, then we may need to apply the inert glaze or glaze base to the veneer part before applying the glaze overall to the surface. It will improve the color blending between the solid wood and the veneer portion.

The wood veneer sometimes has different color base, pore, and pattern with the solid wood. The veneer is usually made from the older and more straight trees. The veneer tends to have bigger and deeper pore and grain. If the close pores finish is needed, then we may need to apply the filler to fill the wood veneer pores and grain.

• The sanding process.

The sanding for the wood veneered panel is about the same as the sanding process for wood panels made from solid wood. The sanding must be done gradually with the coarse sandpaper, followed by the fine sandpaper. First time sanding, we can use the 150 to clean the tape, glue, or stain at the veneered surface. The sanding with #180 is needed to remove the sanding mark from the #150 sandpaper. The final sanding with #240 grade sandpaper is needed to prepare the smooth surface for the finishing process. But the sanding must be done carefully. Wood veneer usually has only thin layer then it has high risk to getting sanded through by too aggressive sanding. The sanding by hand must be done with the stroke direction along to the grain pattern. A hand block can be used to help sand the flat veneer. The sanding machines can also be used to do the sanding process, but it must be done carefully.
If the veneer has special arrangement, the sanding will be more complicated. The sanding machine is absolutely needed to sand the special inlay veneer. The wide belt sander or stroke sander is very good machine to handle this job. If the big machine is not available, then the hand sander machine can be used to take care the wood veneered panel

If the finishing process requires physical distress, then we need to consider the thickness of the veneer layer. Some physical distress, such as nailing, rocking, or chaining, can be performed without any problems, but the distress with deep wounds cannot be held. The gouge distress with chisel or sanded trough distress can peel of the veneer layer and form the damage to the veneer. For the big and deep distress, we better use the veneer with the thick layer or solid wood panel.