Veneer substrate

[Brian Knop]

So I need a 15" wide cherry board for a secretary desk but I can't find anything in my area that wide but I do have 16" figured cherry veneer. Problem is I need 7/8" thick wood and no one that I have found makes 7/8" thick MDF or plywood.. But again my local wood store is lacking in quarter sawn cherry. But they lots of quarter sawn red and white oak, and maple. Would really be a problem to use one of these other woods for the substrate with the veneer?
Thanks suggestion welcomed.

[John TenEyck]

If you need a 7/8" substrate, just take 3/4" and cross band it with lower quality 1/16" veneer on both sides. Now you have a 7/8" thick substrate onto which to glue your show veneer.

John

[Brian Tymchak]

I've seen 3/8" mdf at one of borgs in the past. Not sure if they still do. But if so, then laminate that onto 1/2" mdf and you're there.

[Jim Becker]

I'd just use...cherry...and for this application, it wouldn't necessarily have to be the best quality other than right at any exposed edge.

[Mel Fulks]

Agree with Jim. All kinds of stuff has been used , and worked well. Nice veneer work has been done on cheap stuff and ….astonishingly even
found on fine mahogany “core”, even the more scarce type mahogany ( the name of which can not be found in my brain right now) When that work is found we moderns usually think …what’s THAT about ? Lavish wonderful stuff under veneer is kinda’ weird and has likely
tempted some who don’t like to steal veneered stuff …check out the core.

[Malcolm McLeod]

I'd just use...cherry...and for this application, it wouldn't necessarily have to be the best quality other than right at any exposed edge.

I have done the same: shop-sawn curly cherry veneered on plain (#1? IIRC) cherry for drawer fronts - just pick core boards with a decent edge. In my case, since edges are visible when the drawer is open, they get the same finish - and veneer line is almost undetectable.

[Brian Knop]

Thanks for the help

[Mike King]

I'd caution using lumber as a substrate particularly on wider panels. Even with the same species, you can have different rates of expansion and contraction. You are much better off using an MDF assembly thickness sanded to the correct dimension.

Mike