Veneer Press options ?

[Joe Calhoon]

Most are used for making plywood and veneer solid core doors. Sweet machines for sure, still regret passing on a few.

They are great for keeping pizza warm as well!
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[peter gagliardi]

Now that is funny Joe. Probably thin crust too!

[Warren Lake]

see the big presses as well. I just have a simple bag set up home made with a heavy quality bag. Could you not have one of the table top ones that is hinged on a wall then you lift it up when you need it and it has legs then folds back down on the wall when not in use. That is what I thought to build if I had a flat table one. For stuff ive done so far not all would work with flat. The odd thing rather than a panel is larger and would not fit the table or even the bag so a temp bag set up was made. havent seen the large pro model you guys mention but will look it up.

[Kevin Jenness]

Here are some frame press kits one of which is 54"x54" http://www.qualityvak.com/frame.html. Vacupress sells several kits and complete units, but larger than you want https://www.vacupress.com/vacupress-...frame-systems/. I set up two of their kits for the shop I used to work for, the hardware is good quality and the company is reliable. Another supplier of various size kits- http://www.vacuum-press.com/table.html.

Like several other posters here I rely on a bag press due to space limitations, but for flat and low profile curved work a frame press is far more convenient.

[John Kee]

These might be more in your price range from Veneer Systems. I have no connection but use them for product, especially Unibond 800.

http://www.veneersystems.com/index.p...category/id/8/

I occasionally get asked to glueup specialized veneer panels and have made my own setup on a 4' x 8' table that's been laminated with industrial HPL. The table mainly serves as my main work top. I have a small vacuum pump and bought a 5' x 9' sheet of 30 mil polyurethane thats gets clamped to the tabletop with a simple frame and a series of 2" spring clamps, when I need to do veneer. While simple in approach it works well for small to large projects and you don't have the aggravation of trying to get everything in a bag.

[John Sincerbeaux]

Are you guys talking about veneer presses or mobile work tables?
For veneering, I have a few different bags and a different plattens. If I want to speed things up a bit, I throw an electric blanket on top of the press. As far as a dedicated press system, I would have to do a lot of veneering in a "successful" shop to justify the cost vs. convienance. I have been in many one-man pro shops and have seen 4'x8' bags that are covered w a sheet of plywood which is covered w "stuff". In other words, it seems guys don't really use their veneer systems as much as you think.
Rick, you are too young to be thinking about getting too old��

[Rick Fisher]

The Felder is just over $20,000 Canadian .. not exact, I'm sure its cheaper on the East coast as well due to freight .. The big Barth was more..

I wonder about using a vacuum generator vs a pump ? Does anyone have any experience with this ? I have a 5hp Rotary with a 90 gallon tank, it produces a large amount of air at 145 psi.. Its always on .. always available, if a Generator would work, it would reduce the amount of motors in the shop..
What are the downsides to a generator that has access to lots of air ?

I read on one of the sites that the vacuum alone creates a glue setting time of about 40 minutes.. with heat however allow only 5 minutes.. That's a remarkable difference. Is an electric blanket effective ? Would you insulate the underside of the press ?

I like the idea of a frame to work as another clamp.

I appreciate the links to the other frames, I had not found those .. I would actually like a table that flips up on the wall, perhaps I could make it happen myself. 51" x 51" that sits on the wall would be awesome.. Flip it down and use it .. flip it back up .. If the table is rigid enough, I could simply build the wall mount part myself ..

[Bill Adamsen]

I have several bags and platens and choose the smallest practical. While a frame is attractive I can't justify the space for something I realistically use once a month.

[John Kee]

I have several bags and platens and choose the smallest practical. While a frame is attractive I can't justify the space for something I realistically use once a month.

Bill in my case the frame is 2 pcs 96" x 1" and 2 pcs 46" x 1" are stored upright in a corner and are assembled when needed, the poly gets rolled up and put back in the box it was shipped in, not a whole lot of space. Using 2" spring clamps around the perimeter roughly every 4" gives enough sealing against the HPL top and the vacuum pump only cycles every 2 minutes during the drying period. Using Unibond 800 gives a lot of time to work with materials and clamp the edge. Having 100 plus 2" spring clamps for doing solid surface is definite a plus for this system.