Question
I am pricing a job with antique oak stile and rail raised panel walls. The architect has drawn the upper panels at approximately 60" wide and 80" tall and 3/4" thick. From previous experience I know that the reclaimed oak can move quite a bit once milled. I was wondering if anyone knew of a source for antique oak veneer. I am not opposed to laying up panels with veneer and banding the edges. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I am not quite ready to go the architect and tell him the design is flawed.
Forum Responses
(Architectural Woodworking Forum)
From contributor A:
I did a bunch of reclaimed white oak and chestnut kitchens and libraries for several years, and made my own, but it was pretty thick since the stuff I was using was very old, partially punky, brittle and crumbly. In order to resaw it, it had to already have been glued between two pieces of plywood. The max width I could re-saw was 12" so I had to make, in essence, veneered plywood boards which I then glued up after running through a Timesaver. Fortunately, I didn't have the same architect you do, so my panels were not so large. You're certainly right about the movement. Real wood doesn't stop moving until it becomes dissolved ashes in the dirt. I would think your best bet would be to do a search for suppliers, then ask them if they know of anyone doing it.
