Cut panel to final size before or after PSA veneer?

[Ty Williams]

I've got a quickie shelf project I'm using that involves a Baltic Birch panel veneered in PSA (peel-n-stick) quartersawn oak veneer. With proper glue on veneer, I'd typically make the panel a bit oversized, apply the veneer, and then cut it to final size to ensure good bond of the veneer right out to the edge. With PSA, I'm not so sure what I should do. I'd default to applying the veneer, then cutting, but I'm worried about the adhesive gumming up the saw or the saw's heat affecting the adhesive and affecting the bond. However, if I cut to final size first, then I'm left with trimming the PSA veneer perfectly flush and that has the same two risks.

Thoughts on which order I should do it in?

[Ralph Boumenot]

I would cut the panel to final size and then make the PSA veneer slightly bigger so it overlaps all four edges. Trim once it's adhered.