Help with Stacking Designs

[breyfogle]

Hello people! I am new and just engorged with ideas. Ha. Appreciate your help to make them happen!

I am making layered designs; some that are intended to hang on a wall and some that are intended to hang in a window. For the former, only the top/front layer will be visible and for the latter, the two outside front/back layers.

So I only need a finish on the outside layers… seems wasteful to use the double sided finishes since one will be covered and glued. Questions:

Does it make sense to use the veneer on draftboard for the visible side?
Can I stick the veneer on the draftboard first, and then cut? (designs are intricate so trying to stick after cutting makes me queasy)
Or should I source a single sided material instead (if so, any suggestions)?

TIA for your help!!
Brooke

[cynd11]

I think veneer on Draftboard should work just fine. But you will have to do some testing on a small bonded piece first; Draftboard settings won’t cut it.

[eflyguy]

@breyfogle

veneer on draftboard

That is basically how plywood is constructed, so why not just use plywood?

[rbtdanforth]

You are basically describing Colombia Forest plywood
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-1-4-in-x-2-ft-x-4-ft-PureBond-Maple-Plywood-Project-Panel-Free-Custom-Cut-Available-1789/203552993

[breyfogle]

I just want one finished side. Do you have a recommended source for single-sided veneer plywood? The proofgrade plywood is finished on both sides.

[breyfogle]

Thanks! Do you think the plywood settings should cut it, adjusted to the actual thickness?

[cynd11]

No, you are still going to need to adjust power/speed to get through the two layers. Your best best is to use one of the many testing templates out there to zero in to the right settings. I like this one as it doesn’t use much material.

And now that we are talking about nonproofgrade settings, I need to move this to the Beyond the Manual category.