Help: Steaming veneer

Subject: Steaming veneer
From: Gypsy
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 11:33 AM

Well, here we go. Have an OLD Vega bowl back, the one with the cut out headstock. Unfortunately, my headstock is broken. But there is light....a friend gave me a donor headstock, so could cut out the decorative end, splice, stain, reveneer, and voila, new mando. But, the veneer on the donor stock is cracked. Any advice on how to steam off the rest of the way. Have an espresso machine for a steamer, has served well for thin veneer. Plan on doing tonight. Don't think it was hide glue. Acquired this because he needed the fret board, and broke the heel stock. He thinks it was gorilla glue or something of that ilk. Thanks all.

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 12:35 PM

A "donor headstock?" Almost sounds like a "brainstem."*bg*

Good luck, it does sound like it will be a great little mando when you get done.

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 12:42 PM

Try a double boiler, with a little Mint or Dill dependent upon the variety. I think though it will still taste a little woody :) JohnB

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 01:45 PM

If it was, in fact, Gorilla Glue or something like that, steaming will soften the wood but won't (at achievable temperatures) do much to soften the glue.

If it is an older job, the alternative to hide glue that was used for "high strength" assembly - what held most wooden airplanes together - was chicken blood. It sets up very hard, and is almost impervious to both heat and water.

If steaming is not working, the next best bet would be carefull use of a sander or plane to just cut down to the glue line. Since you're replacing the veneer, you're not worried about taking it of in little bits. Note that sanding wet wood is rather inefficient, so you may want to let the effects of the steaming "breathe" for a day before changing to that method.

Where was that thread on Dremels???

John

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 02:14 PM

Basic Rule of Woodworking #18: Veneers will always come loose and peel off unless you want them to.

Steaming can create some very undesired effects on the area you're talking about and I would agree with John on sanding. Use care of course, but I think you'll be better off. One thing though, do be sure when you have finished that you have a flat, smooth surface (no chunk holes) to apply the new veneer or "Rule #18" will again come into play and it won't look too good either!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: Gypsy
Date: 01 Apr 02 - 10:54 PM

Well, since i want to use the old veneer as a template....what worked was putting the beastie in my rice steamer....popped off in about 20 minutes. Now the donor piece will languish above the woodstove to dry completely. Considering that this mando has been waiting for parts for oh, two years now, what's a few more days, eh? I will fix no mando before it's time! Think am going to use the donor piece for veneer....it is really nice birdseye maple, and sanded down a bit, will work well. Now if i can just find a teeny weeny blade for my dremel tool to get the thick parts off of the back....thanks for all the help, gang.

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: mooman
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 02:54 AM

Ah yes...the rice steamer! Now why didn't I think of that!

Well done and good luck with the repair.

mooman

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: Gypsy
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 11:20 PM

Thanks mooman....and i DID find a teeny weeny blade for my dremel tool! Life is good. A coping saw on birds eye, may as well be using my thumbnail! Getting there, getting there.

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 11:44 AM

Well good job!!! Glad you got it and that the steam worked....too often it just results in added work. Happy to hear it's all working out for you and we can give you more non-suggestions anytime!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: GUEST,CraigS
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 04:10 PM

Damn! Came off before I could suggest the blowtorch - that gets EVERYTHING off!

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 03:29 AM

Gypsy ... don't forget the value of broken glass. Get a small piece of ss window pane. Put it in a bag and smash it with a hammer. The broken shards will give you many scraping tools, small enough to clean the glue out of tight areas. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: Gypsy
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 11:59 PM

Cool, Bob. Appreciate the idea. Since i also do stained glass.....the handsome mando player sez to share: apparently steaming the entire headstock made it a wee bit bigger? Anyone else had this experience? Part of the reason i wanted to use it (aside from being birdseye and beautiful) is i have the original tuners and backing plate TO THAT HEADSTOCk, and figured it would be a easy fit. GUess what, gotta drill. Good thing it is a mando, with 8 strings should cover up my oooopppps. Or i could stick bushings in there at some point in time. Anyway, it is now mounted, need to do a little more sanding a jogging (it is slightly proud of the nut, whoops) and i can string it up. Sure gives new life to the old girl. 'Spaw you NEVER give non advice. Just thought with all the BS we've been having round here, could use a few more music oriented threads. Thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: mooman
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:03 AM

Gypsy, before you do redrillings or bushings or any of that hard stuff, let the headstock dry out naturally for a while and see if it returns to something resembling its original dimensions. The intense steaming will have softened and expanded the wood and it will shrink again as it dries.

Just a suggestion, it may save aggravation and effort later...

Best rgards,

mooman

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:52 AM

Gypsy, that problem is what I meant above when I said "Steaming can create some very undesired effects on the area you're talking about".......but take the mooman's advice and wait. Let the area dry thoroughly and naturally......Do not try to help it along with extra heat or things could get worse again.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: Gypsy
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:30 AM

THanks, guys, will do. Have it sitting on coffee table in living room (wood heat) and will check it again next week. It is not off by much, so will keep fingers crossed. Would rather not use bushings, if i can avoid it!

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: Gypsy
Date: 02 May 02 - 11:01 PM

The saga continues.....headstock is ON, tuners FIT, backing plate REPOLISHED, just redid the pick guard, and replaced all of its missing pearl, and reshellacked it. Waiting for beauteous pearl nut to arrive (after all this, who wants to use micarta?) then borrow nut files from the banjo man....THEN I CAN STRING IT! 'nother couple of weeks...am on tenterhooks.

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 May 02 - 11:22 PM

clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Steaming veneer
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 May 02 - 11:23 PM

I'll get a shot of penicillin later........

Spaw