Gary:

Hi Bob Morgan! …Finishing wood veneer – Question – Should I use wood sealer on the veneer surface before I apply a finish to the veneer?Is it better to stain a veneer or to apply a finish to the veneer such as polyurethane?How do I prep the veneer before I apply a finish?

Bob Morgan:Hi Gary, and thank you for your email.

Prepping a veneered surface before applying a finish is no different than prepping any wooden surface for finishing.If you are using the veneer from Veneer Factory Outlet or Wood Veneer Factory Outlet, there is no need to prep the veneer, as it has been pre sanded at our factory.

Using a sanding sealer before applying a finish to the veneer is up to you.A sanding sealer can make your finishing job easier, as it acts as a “prep” for the finish that you are applying to the veneer.It is called “sanding sealer” because sanding sealers are easier to sand than an actual finish, such as a varnish shellac, etc.

You apply the sealer coat to the veneer, let dry, sand it, and then you apply the finish to the veneered surface.It can make your finishing the veneer easier and somewhat faster.

Some woodworkers say that the sanding sealer can affect the appearance of the finish on the veneer.I recommend doing some testing on a scrap of veneer, with and without the sanding sealer to see how things go.

You can stain a veneered surface without applying a finish afterwards, yes.But, I don’t recommend it for most applications.Stains do not protect the veneer like a finish does.If you apply a stain to the veneer, it is almost always best to apply a finish afterwards.Follow the directions on the labels of the stain and finish.

Regards,

Bob Morgan

Veneer Factory Outlet