Carpentry and Woodworking - applying wood veneer to mdf: help please

can anyone here give me some tips on applying (walnut) veneer to mdf?

the item is a desk and a cabinet.

need info on ways to cut the veneer; best way to apply the veneer to the edges of the desk and shelving; best glues; tools required, etc.

thanks in advance :)

I've laminated a lot of things with formica, but never with real wood. Sounds like fun. I do know that the Rockler catalog has a lot of tools for cutting veneer, and they even have a book on the subject.

Their veneer cutter (#92825) looks like the cat's meow.

http://www.rocklerpro.com

I'm sure that contact cement is the way to go. If it's a relatively small project, 3M makes spray adhesive that would work just fine. Otherwise, a foam roller and quart or gallon of contact cement will do the trick. You apply it to both sides, let it dry, then carefully place it on the surface, slowly rolling it with a roller as you let the veneer down onto the glued surface. Once you start, there is no moving it or taking it off. That's why you usually use a bigger piece of veneer than you need, and then trim off the excess around the edges once it's all glued down.

With MDf, I've found you really need to let the contact cement tack up good, because it is such a slick surface, it seems to have a tendency to "let go" of the contact cement. It might not hurt to rough up the surfaces with 80 grit and an orbital sander.

Good luck!

argh tried to get into that rockler site you linked me to but i can't get in :/

i need a zip code or a locator number (wtf) or a subscription to their mag or something :S to get in there and i live in new zealand (no zipcodes or, um, locators here)...

anyway XSleeper thanks for your fast reply :)

Ooops! Sorry- try this link instead. http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/search_results.cfm?filter=veneer

Glad to help a kiwi. ;)

yayy i'm in :D and cool site...oh and thanks - always glad to be helped by, uh, someone with x in their name ;)