Some veneers-particularly those sold for edging purposes are applied using heat, normally in the form of a hot clothes iron.

Many professional cabinetmakers are now making their own heat applied veneers by taking advantage of some woodworking glues thermoplastic characteristics.

A trait shared by all polyvinyl acetate (pva) Glues like Titebond II, etc. is that heat will re-activate the glue after it has dried.

To use this method of applying veneer, use a short napped roller to spread a fairly heavy coat of glue and allow to dry.

Pre-heat a regular household clothes iron to a temperature between 250 degrees (delicate setting) and 350 degrees (linen) setting. The setting will depend on the type and brand of glue you are using. Place the veneer on the surface to be glued, then heat thoroughly and apply pressure in a methodical sequence to insure that all areas are heated and bonded.

Please note that it is a good idea to experiment with a scrap piece of the veneer you are using before committing to this method to determing proper iron setting.

Unbacked veneers should have their faces dampened lightly before applying glue to prevent buckling. Caution shold also be taken since some veneers may tend to shrink across the grain when heat is applied to them. This may be avoided by pre-shrinking the vener by running a hot iron across it prior to applying glue.

Caution should be exercised to avoid scorching the veneer during application.

In summary, this method works very well, but it is higly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the techinques involved and materials used before committing to a project.