Decorating body with veneer shapes?

geetarguy85

Hi All,

I'm revisiting an old project and I had an idea but I'm not sure it'd work.

I'd like to decorate the body with some shapes, similar to inlays but using veneer. I don't feel comfortable routing the body (plus don't have a router!) so I thought if the veneer is thin enough I could just glue it straight on top of the body, then clear coat the whole thing. Does this sound like it'd work? Or will I end up with some horrible protruding shapes?

andy_k

I think the time spent attempting to get a good flat clear coated finish, could equal the time spent using a small dremel style router to inlay the pieces.
Both will eventually achieve the desired outcome.
Either way you will learn something useful.

WezV

they will likely protrude... its going to be hard to bury 0.6mm veneer under most finishes

You could do a marquetry style over the whole top, then seal than in with finish
https://www.epoxyworks.com/index.php/marquetry-eat-a-peach-guitar/

check out the process pics here too
https://reverb.com/au/item/1251379-james-macdonald-eat-a-peach-tribute-2015-marquetry-art

TJT1979

A friend put flames on a solidbody bass using bits of veneer. They stick up noticeably. In my opinion it looks pretty naff, but he likes it. Unless you have a super thick finish the veneer will be noticeable. 

benvall

Similar to @WezV ‘s post. This video shows a veneer 

https://youtu.be/EAO2_Hxl86s