Q.
I have a job in which there are several pieces of veneer (28) per panel with a total of 8 panels. Everything is the same species.
Although the panel sizes vary, the "inlays" are all the same size. Is it reasonable to make templates, or will anything that I would make a template from expand and contract too much, thus making bad joints? I was thinking plastic laminate.
Or would I be safe as long as everything was in the same room/temp/humidity etc.?
A.
If I understand you correctly, you are making 8 panels (for example, some are 14 inch x 20 inch, others may be 14 x 24, etc.) of different sizes, with an inlay of all the same size within the panel?
If that's right, I would suggest you make all the panels the same size, if sizes are all within a 4-inch size range. Make the panels all the same size (the largest size), then use a template to do your inlay work.
Plastic laminate should work. After making all 8 panels the same size and inserting the inlays, you can cut the panels down to the size needed.
Locke Wilde, forum moderator
