nev":12ogz9xu said:
Evening gents
Is it feasible to use a few sheets of wood veneer to create a small rigid (ish) shape?
Yes, although you will probably struggle to achieve the two relatively sharply angled bends (particularly the one in front of the knees) because the veneers will naturally want to form themselves into a sweeping curve: trying to achieve too sharp a bend is likely to lead to tension failure (ripping) particularly on the outside of each lamination in the curved part.
Chrispy is incorrect to say a water based adhesive won't cure if used for a job like this. He is partially correct if he's referring to using aliphatic resin or PVA adhesives, and where the layers aren't pressed together firmly meaning that each layer of veneer isn't intimately touching the adjoining piece(s) of veneer. Voids filled with these adhesives appear much the same as the rubbery dried dribbles of the stuff you often find on the outside of the glue bottle - neither PVA nor aliphatic resins are gap filling strength conferring adhesives. They're also creepers and often not ideal for laminating because the bend tends to want to straighten out, especially tight bends.
On the other hand, hide glue will fully cure in gappy joints and does offer some (relatively good) gap filling structural strength. Urea formaldehyde adhesives, e.g., Cascamite, another adhesive incorporating water provides significant gap filling ability as well as structural integrity. Urea formaldehyde adhesives are a common choice for laminations because of this gap filling characteristic, and their non-creepy nature. And, there are other possible adhesives, e.g., epoxy resin, but for something as small as you're doing I suggest you go for the urea formaldehyde option, at least to start with.
Ensuring your laminations are pressed firmly together is likely to incorporate an accurately made male/female former, although other techniques would work, e.g., a vacuum bag or press (overkill probably), or possibly some sort of strap (metal or strong fabric, even possibly strong elastic) to pull the layers down firmly over a male only former. Slainte.
