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Very
fragile veneers can be stored in a closed trash bag (or other moisture
barrier) and stored laying flat. This will prevent seasonal changes in moisture content which can cause veneers to become wavy or rippled. Typically, there is no "shelf life" to a veneer when it is stored properly. I have used elm burl veneer that was sliced in the early 1907's and there was no problem.
Other
veneers can be pressed between two pieces of MDF or flake board, and
leaned against the wall. If you store your veneers in the basement,
be sure to put a block of wood underneath just in case your basement
ever gets a small flood.
If a veneer is not stored properly, you can often restore it to a state of flexibility with a coat of veneer softener.
Veneers
stored in damp environments are subject to patches of mold. To prevent
this from occurring, use a dehumidifier in the area where the veneers
are kept. And should a patch of mold form, go
to your local hardware store and purchase some oxalic acid (wood bleach).
Follow the directions on the container. It will probably cause
darker veneers like walnut to lighten up a bit, but the color does
return.
If your veneer arrives rolled up, it's best to unroll it (slowly and carefully) and store it horizontally. In an ideal situation, you should place a board on top of the veneer to minimize seasonal changes in moisture content which can cause ripples. At the very least, a cover should be placed over the veneer to prevent color fading caused by exposure to UV and fluorescent light.
Some veneers will arrive with tape on the ends to prevent splitting during transit. To remove the tape without splitting the veneer, pull it off in the direction of the grain. If you pull it across the grain, it may tear the veneer. Some companies recommend that you leave the tape on the veneer until you are ready to use it. I don't recommend this practice. Why? Because veneers are capable of expanding and contracting with even the slightest change in humidity. The tape can cause the veneer to buckle when it tries to expand or split when it tries to contract. If your veneer has a split, you can prevent it from advancing by place small pieces of blue tape (or standard veneer tape) along the length of the split. This will allow the wood cells to shrink and expand each season without stressing the entire width of the veneer.
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STORAGE
TIPS:
For smaller veneers, it is safe to lay them on a shelf with
a piece of plywood or MDF on top. A small amount of even weight
over this will help keep flat veneers inline.
For
medium sized veneers, I prefer to sandwich them between two
oversized sheets of MDF or flakeboard. I then use screws or
duct tape to hold the sandwich together.
Large
veneers are best stored unrolled. I made a shelf above my garage
door from a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood. I keep a couple layers of trash bags over the veneers to minimize moisture changes. You also might also be able
to convince your spouse to let you store them under the couch.
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