I carved some time out and made some progress on my clock. This project used a special woodworking tool:
This is for veneer. Don’t take my iron to do your shirts
Yup, looks like a household iron. The difference? Well, none really, as it is a regular iron you’d use on shirts, but I use to put edge banding on stuff:
The edge is a veneer glued down using a hot iron.
Here’s a view of the edge:
Two pieces of different veneers are connected with a miter cut.
The miter servers two purposes – it looks nicer than a straight cut and it hides mistakes in cutting better.
The edge showing is 3/4 of an inch thick.
The way this works is that you apply PVA glue (yellow carpenter’s glue, or white glue) to the edge of the clock and to the back of the veneer. Then you let both dry overnight. When dry, you lay the veneer on the edge and apply heat with the iron. The heat of the iron reactivates the glue and as it cools you get wood glued to wood. It’s a great way to apply flat veneers to curved surfaces.
Not always easy. What you’re looking at is my second attempt as I screwed up big time the first time. But with a disc sander and more veneer here is a perfect joint.
and that’s the key to woodworking – knowing how to fix your mistakes.
If you need me – I’ll be out making mistakes in the shop,
Andrew
Andrew's View of the Week 
That’s beautiful. I’m amazed that this is just “normal” glue. I thought that veneer edge glue was something super fancy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are a number of glues used for veneer work, but for most small pieces like this, PVA (Polyvinyl acetate) works just fine. This includes a range of glues, white (elmer’s), yellow (carpenter’s or wood glue). Often the only difference between “normal” and “fancy” glue is the packaging. The underlying chemistry is the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your work is really beautiful! You reference covering up mistakes, but I find it hard to believe you could “hide” much. The light and dark alternating patterns is really appealing to me. I’ll look forward to seeing the finished project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was drawn to this pattern and like it myself. With this kind of work, you aren’t allowed too many mistakes, so I use every trick I can think of.
LikeLike
That looks very cool. Way to branch out on tools of the trade.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also picked up some tools at the last quilt show I went tool. Next stop, the dental tool shop, but they have a ton of stuff there for me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The key to life…knowing how to fix your mistakes AND learn from them! Nice work Andrew!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’d think that after all the mistakes I’ve made, I’d be smarter. Hum… have to work on that. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
From your first sentence, I thought we were in for a whole post of puns, but clearly you kept watch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
that’s not bad, clock, keeping watch. Might steel that one from you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The person who never made a mistake never made anything!
LikeLiked by 2 people
True.
LikeLike
Aren’t you clever. I now have a use for that old iron in my closet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
now all you need is some wood, veneer and glue…
LikeLike
You are,a very skilled craftsman, Andrew.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guess I have learned a thing or two.
LikeLike
they are not mistakes, they are artistic modifications! Beautiful work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s what I tell people, “Artistic interpretation of the imperfect world we live in.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
exactly! Everything (even mistakes) happens for a reason
LikeLike
Handsome piece of woodworking you have there. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s going to look better with a coat of finish on it.
LikeLike
Nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s an interesting method.
LikeLike
Beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the pattern.
LikeLike
Beautiful job Andrew.
Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person