You can often see the thickness of veneer on the edges and corners. When refinishing veneer furniture, it's important not to over-sand a project, otherwise you'll break through to the plywood below. Too little sanding won't remove all of the scratches and dents. We recommend having a variety of grits, 100, 120, 320.
Staining and Sealing
I did two layers of stain and once it was completely dry, I sealed it with polyurethane. Tabletops take a lot of wear and tear so it is recommended to do three coats of poly. Follow the directions and lightly sand between each coat for the best finish.
NOTE: Because wood veneer is actually real wood (and often has a beautiful wood grain), you CAN stain and varnish it! However, be careful if you're using an electric or belt sander, because often the veneer is so thin that aggressive sanding will wear though the veneer quickly.
Conclusion: Chemical stripping is your better option for a veneered piece. If you have sanded veneer and feel comfortable doing, it can certainly be done, just be patient, start at 100 or 120 rather than a 60 or 80 grit. Don't press hard with the sander, let it do the work.
Be sure to sand with the grain to get a smooth finish. Staining an improperly sanded piece will only ruin your veneer visually and physically. Stay away from belt sanders: Remember that the veneer is thin, so don't over sand it or you will end up going right through it.
How to Sand Veneer. Practice patience when hand sanding small veneered pieces. For most veneer types, we recommend starting with nothing coarser than a 100-grit and slowly working your way up to a 220-grit or finer, depending on the piece and desired outcome. All increases and changes should be gradual.
Finishing Wood Veneers 101
Our two top choices for finishes: First: petroleum based polyurethane varnish. Second: Water based polyurethane varnish.
Teak wood veneers and other species enhance the appearance of the furniture giving it a genuine wood look and feel. With time, wood veneers lose their shine and finish due to external impacts and require refinishing. While refinishing may seem like a simple task, you need to be careful not to damage the veneer surface.
You can apply a stain to your wood veneer if you want to, but you don't have to. If you want to change the color or hue of the wood, staining will be necessary. Some stains are available as a finish and a stain all in one.
Veneer is an easy way to make a beautiful piece extraordinary, but over the years it easily scratches and dents. Luckily, mid-century furniture is still popular today and well worth the time to refinish.
There are so many things you can do with a piece covered in wood veneer. 1 – Repair the wood veneer. If most of it is in good shape, sand the chips down, fill cracks, iron out bubbles, and paint it!
Apply the new color of wood stain using a fine bristled paintbrush or a foam paintbrush. Make sure to use even strokes when applying the stain. Wipe off any excess stain after the product has penetrated the surface of the veneer.
You will have to work a little hard to apply polyurethane to your veneer, as it usually requires at least 3 coats to seal the wood. If you use a microfibre paint roller and wet sand between coats you should avoid seeing any of the streaky ridges that can appear if the finish is not applied correctly.
Wood veneer is a thin slice of natural wood that is attached, through gluing or pressing, onto a panel of fibreboard (MDF or HDF), particleboard or plycore. Particleboard is the most common and cost effective, but having a plycore layer in the centre is the best and most durable option.
It's best to use coasters under glasses to avoid water rings from drinks. It may seem minor, but water rings can cause damage to veneer tables by soaking the finish and changing its opacity. Avoid any damage by using mats and coasters each meal time.
But if you're using veneered plywood or MDF in your project, odds are the veneer is very thin. Even on this veneer, it still takes quite a bit of effort to sand through when sanding by hand. But machine tools like a random orbital sander can go through fairly quickly.
The thickness of the veneer layer:
If this layer is too thin, it will be difficult (or even impossible) to sand down and refinish your flooring. If they had 1/8″ of veneer when new, they can usually be refinished twice, and 3/16″ options can be done three or four times before replacing becomes the better option.
To repair a veneer blister, carefully slit it open with a razor knife. Then use a glue syringe or a toothpick to apply yellow carpenter's glue beneath the veneer. Press down lightly on the blister to spread the glue. Cover the repair with wax paper and a flat wood block, then clamp the blister flat.
Which polish is ideal for veneer surfaces? Melamine polish on veneer gives furniture a matte finish that keeps the natural wooden look of furniture intact. Melamine polish requires less time to dry, leaves a stable thin layer that can withstand heat, and requires minimal upkeep.
Veneers are natural materials made from thin natural wood slices. Laminates are artificial materials made from decorative papers and plastic resins. Veneers are made from real wood sheets in a way that each sheet gives a unique design and appearance. Laminate sheets have the same design and appearance.