Hi Bob Morgan,
I am building a cap for my long radiators and would like to know if your veneers will hold up to the winter heat. Peel and stick? Adhesives? Any information would be useful.
Debbie
Hello Debbie,
I wouldn't choose the peel and stick veneer as my first choice for this. Instead, you could use the 2 ply wood backed veneer.
You would need to glue it with a woodworker's glue such as Titebond 2. This requires clamping the veneer tightly all over the entire surface while the glue dries.
You would need to apply a thin coat of woodworker's glue to the veneer and to the substrate. Then, you should lay the veneer down in place and sandwich the workpiece between a couple of flat boards. Apply heavy pressure over the entire surface using a liberal amount of C clamps.
You can also mount the veneer using a vacuum bag press if you have access to one
Your environment, right over a radiator, is pretty severe. I cannot give advice one way or the other as to how well this would hold up over time.
It is always proper to veneer both sides of a workpiece with a backer veneer (can be a less expensive species). This balances the stresses and helps to avoid warping.
In your case, enclosing the top of a radiator, it is mandatory that you follow the recommended veneering principles of mounting veneer to both sides of the substrate.
Regards,
Bob Morgan, Pres.