All the Best Reasons to Use Peel-and-Stick Veneer

If you’ve never worked with wood (or wood veneer sheets) before it can be a little intimidating jumping in.

To apply veneer properly, you need to understand how to clean and prepare substrate, properly mix and apply adhesive, and how to apply, flatten, and press the veneer.

You also need to understand how wood responds to being trimmed, sanded, and finished.

That’s a lot of information and it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed.

However, there are things you can do to make it easier on yourself.

For instance, we sell peel-and-stick veneer with a PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive) 3M backer that is easier to apply than paper and phenolic-backed veneer. PSA is also called sticky-back and self-stick veneer.

It is more expensive, and you still need to know how to trim and finish wood, but at least in terms of application, it’s a bit more straightforward.

Here are all the reasons you should give it a try if you’ve never worked with veneer before and have a small project in your pipeline.

It Saves Time

One of the main draws of peel-and-stick veneer is that it saves time compared to conventional methods of application.

You don’t need to learn about the different types of adhesives, figure out which one is most appropriate to use, or even mix any.

The PSA backer is ready to apply. All you have to do (more or less) is clean and prepare your substrate, position, and apply your veneer.

You Don’t Need Any Special Equipment

Some experienced woodworkers advocate for the use of a vacuum press when applying conventional paper-backed veneer.

Not only does this require you to learn how to use one, but it also requires you to get one, and specialized equipment like this is not cheap.

With peel-and-stick veneer, you don’t really need any specialized tools at all - just a scraper, and you can improvise your own by sanding the edge of a piece of wood to create a radius and using that instead.

Peel-and-Stick Veneer Is Repositionable

Another great thing about peel-and-stick veneer is that it’s (technically) repositionable.

Since the adhesive is integral to the veneer sheet, if you apply it and your placement is ever-so-slightly off, you can pull it up and reapply it before the adhesive fully sets.

Obviously, this is not ideal, but you can still do it. This makes it easier to use for beginners that have had little to no experience trimming and positioning wood veneer previously.

It’s Easier to Apply: How to Apply It

The last, best reason to use peel-and-stick veneer is that it’s easier to apply than other conventional methods using separate adhesives. It is available in burl woods, cherry, maple and at least 300 other species of wood veneer.

Surface prep is the first step. Make sure you are using a suitable substrate; MDF is ideal, followed by other synthetics, as well as plywood or another hardwood (if applying over plywood or solid wood, finishing the surface is best).

Clean and dry the entire substrate surface, then lightly sand the surface with 180 grit sandpaper. Then, clean and dry the surface once more. Wipe away all dust and particulate matter before proceeding with application.

Cut your peel-and-stick veneer to a size slightly larger than the face of the substrate you will be covering. This will allow you to place the veneer sheet without having to perfectly align it; you can trim excess overhang later. For an even better bond use a water based contact cement on the substrate (only). This is very useful in areas where there can be high humidity.

Once you’ve placed the veneer, begin applying pressure from the center outwards to remove any trapped air and prevent bubbles from forming. During this step use a scraper to force out any air. Press down at the center - hard - and work the scraper outwards towards the edge.

Using a piece of veneer slightly larger than the surface of your substrate will enable you to trim overhang. When doing so, use an extremely sharp knife or razor. Score the surface of the veneer a few times before cutting through it to ensure an even cut and prevent tearout.

After trimming, if the edge of your peel-and-stick veneer panel is a bit sharp, run over it lightly with a fine grit sandpaper.

The last step is to finish the veneer; this can be done just like you would do for any other hardwood. The first step is to sand; do this by hand to prevent sand-through, then apply your choice of finish and stain.

What Can You Use Peel-and-Stick Veneer for?

Peel-and-stick veneer can be used for a wide range of applications, including but not limited to:

• Speakers
• Cabinet Refacing
• Tabletops
• Refinishing furniture (like dresser tops)
• Accenting/ornamenting instruments
• Inlaying and marquetry

Who Should Try Using Peel-and-Stick Veneer?

Anyone that’s not familiar with the use of wood veneer and wants to give it a try should consider using peel-and-stick veneer for its ease of use and accessibility.

Plus, when you’re done, you’ll have scraps that you can use for inlaying and other odd crafts.

Questions Before Getting Started with Peel-and-Stick Veneer?

Do you still have questions about how to apply peel-and-stick veneer, or what species to use for a project?

Feel free to reach out to us at 800-426-6018 and we will be happy to get you started.