Re-gluing veneer

[katherine6]

I have an old library card filing box. The timber veneer is lifting at the corners. I went to Bunnings and the glue the guy gave me made the veneer lift and curl.
I'd like to know which glue is best and am I able to pin it with a small nail at the corners. I want to glue it and then pin it into place but am worried the wood might split.
Thanks, Katherine6

[chrisb691]

Welcome to the forum Katherine.

I would say the veneer curled because it was a water based glue. Nothing wrong with using water based, but the water will make the veneer expand on the glued side, which is why it curled. You will need to clamp the veneer in someway, until the glue dries. If you have to, put something like a cutting board on top, and stack weight on it. eg bag of flour or books etc.

[joez]

Chris is right , just make sure the glue wont stick to whatever you use weigh the veneer down with! Just bit of wax paper down first and you should be right

Good luck.

joez

[joe greiner]

Try wetting the side not being glued, so that it also expands, thus no curl.

Cheers,
Joe

[katherine6]

Okay, will do that. Thanks for your help.

[jerryc]

If the box is old then the chances are that the glue used would have been hide glue. Hide glue is water soluble. I frequently use PVA glue on new veneering work and have little experience with hide glue, but I believe that hide glue can be reactivated by water. My advice is not to use other glues first as they might make matters worse. There are members who have knowledge in this field. So wait and ask questions first as it is easy to rush in and make thngs worse.

Jerry

[jerryc]

katherine,

One extra thought. Put your question again on the restoration forum. Might get better response.

Jerry