Woodworking Technique: Gluing Veneer on Compound Curve

Woodworking master craftsman David J. Marks demonstrates the technique he uses to glue quilted mahogany veneer from "The Tree" onto a compound curve using the vacuum press.
djmarks.com

[@jwardcomo]

I have a lot of David's "Woodworks" videos on disc. My wife always asks why I watch them over and over. It is because I learn something every time. This time I learned to wipe the bag with water. A true master. Thanks Dave!!!!

[@quiltedmahogany]

I'm glad to hear that you are learning from my videos my friend. Spread the word and I will keep posting new videos!

[@bobbg9041]

@@quiltedmahogany We never stopped Learning or watching.

[@joliekarno]

I feel like I just witnessed a graduate school class in woodworking. Thank you!

[@DavidJMarks]

Much love to you Jolie!

[@johnlockesmith]

Damn it's awesome that your releasing KZbin videos. I cut my teeth on Woodworks when I first got started and you've been my woodworking hero ever since. Great teacher too. Thanks and keep it up!

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thank you very much John ! I appreciate your kind remarks and I am already working on another video !

[@TimRobertsonWoodturning]

Thanks for another great video. Reminds me of how much I miss WoodWorks.

[@DavidJMarks]

Thanks very much Tim!

[@rarityfind]

Glad to have you back on KZbin

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks Jason ! Spread the word and I will create more content.

[@Louranicas]

Dear David thanks you so much for posting some of your work you have been one of my woodworking Heros since your time at Woodworks Please keep posting Cheers Aussie Lou from Australia

[@deltazeesolutions7016]

We are an aerospace composites company who do mesquite woodworking for our hobby.... we vacuum bag carbon fiber stuff all day and it's nice to see when woodworkers use vacuum bagging. It produces a superior product and is not really hard or expensive to do..... Need to see more guys or videos doing it. David, watched your show and videos every chance we get.Thanks!

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks Delta Zee ! I love working with a Vacuum press and I'm very glad to know that you do as well. I have glued some carbon fiber to wood with epoxy to bond it and have had great success with it. Carbon fiber is amazing material ! Not to mention that it's incredibly strong !! Kepp up the great work my friends !

[@keithlester9152]

Thank you Sir for the video. I greatly appreciate it, and miss your WoodWorks show very much. I hope to see more videos. I think you would have the best woodworking channel on KZbin if you wanted

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Keith Lester, thank you for your kind comments and words of encouragement ! I'm trying to figure out how to get some support because it is really expensive to make these long videos. I'm working on it and I will keep producing videos as long as woodworkers like you appreciate it. Cheers!

[@DerekHauser]

It takes some GIGANTIC cajones to drag a router through a sliver of "the tree". You are fearless!! I know making videos is a pain in the a$$, but please make as many as you possibly can...you have so much knowledge to share and we are thirsty for more.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Derek, it doesn't take as much cajones to cut "The Tree" as it does to do Dental work and have the confidence that you possess to drill someone's teeth! Hahaha, so there you have it my friend, it's all about practicing on something first to get down the muscle memory so that you know your outcome in advance. Derek you will love my next video..... it will be on inlay which is something you are already a Master of !! Just use your fine motor skills that you have for inlaying crowns into teeth and apply those to inlaying shell into wood! The great part is that that wood doesn't complain, hahahaha !!

[@GentleStorm1]

Initially I sped this up because I realized I didn’t have the tools to do what you’re doing but I wanted to see the process. But then I was fascinated with your process and tools (my, what large hand tools you have!) and I slowed it down. I’ve not heard of you before but I’m aware of & following you now, and I can’t wait to learn more!!

[@victoryak86]

You make an important and overlooked observation, which is that there is a great deal to be learned from how a master craftsman does his/her work in general. How do they approach a task or project and what are the “little” things they do to ensure success? I’m into woodworking but enjoy many videos about things I’m currently not doing, just to watch and hopefully glean a thing or two.

[@profiskipinternational4402]

Awesome. Studying about wood work to build a rowing shell (single skulling skiff) and got some ideas about cross diagonal stip plank glueing, thought about alternatively to use paper backed veneer (4 layers intotal) to get the around nicely of the hull shape which is very curved. So tks for uploading.

[@charlesschuster7963]

That veneer will be so thin that when you fair the hull, you'll cut through the outer layer and the paper backing will show. If this is acceptable, carry on; if not you'll need to use another material for the hull skin.

[@TheOneBeanWoodworker]

Im wondering if its possible to veneer a sphere ? How to get highly figured wood onto a sphere shape?

[@acraftman2823]

Greetings David, just wanted to say thanks for posting this I hope you will be able to share more of your skills with the utube crowd. I have to say that when woodworks went off it was the first time I ever posted something on the internet asking diy to please put you back on but we know how that worked :(. I am not sure if you give a whoop but I bet you could probably be the first woodworking show to get a million subs if you started posting regularly. Hope to see the completion of this commission . Thanks from another old woodworker

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thank you very much Acraftman ! I was very lucky to be selected to host Woodworks but I knew nothing about tv at the time. There is no money in hosting tv shows on satellite channels and I simply couldn't afford to make any more. After that we refinanced our home and my wife and I opened our own woodworking school.Now that I'm almost 68, I have dedicided to start making more educational You Tube videos in the hopes of sharing knowledge with those who are interested in it. Thanks for watching my friend and please help to spread the word. Making videos is very expensive and hopefully I can find a way to get some support for my efforts to keep this channel going.Cheers !

[@JackbenchWoodworking]

That wall sculpture is stunning, thanks for sharing!

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there Charlie, thank you very much! I loved watching you make that exquisite quilted maple box ! Keep up the great work Charlie!

[@JackbenchWoodworking]

@@quiltedmahogany Thanks David!

[@BBeingHere]

Very well produced video. And of course beautiful work. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks Steve !

[@joshmann2525]

Thank you. 1, it’s The Tree, and 2 I learn so much from watching.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Josh, thanks buddy, I will continue to post more videos ..... especially when people like you write such nice comments.

[@TimothyDorcas]

Always nice to see you in my timeline!

[@DavidJMarks]

Thanks Timothy !

[@peterbrownwastaken]

Thanks for sharing! I always love it when you drop a new video on us.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Peter Brown, great to hear from you! I’m amazed at your channel, it would be great to have lunch when we can schedule it.

[@peterbrownwastaken]

@@quiltedmahogany Anytime! I was supposed to meet up with you and Scott Grove the last time he was in town. Life got in the way. :)

[@Mrjohnboyd1959]

Seems like all I'm doing is watching you putting glue on a piece of wood...lol Real nice video....thank you...

[@DavidJMarks]

@@Mrjohnboyd1959 look more closely,there is a technique to vacuum pressing 2 halves onto a curved surface.The extra glue softens the fibers and makes the veneer more flexible.

[@PuckstersDaddy]

Great piece David, I have always liked your wall sculptures.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Bill, thanks, this one will the most time consuming by far !

[@PuckstersDaddy]

@@quiltedmahogany Can't wait to see the finished piece.

[@cpad007]

Welcome back to KZbin with a long, in-depth tutorial! You always have such interesting projects that require out of the box thinking. Looking forward to more. Maybe one day I'll get back up to Santa Rosa to irritate you, Dave! Cheers!

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks cpad007 .... cheers to you as well !

[@keithkelley7512]

Thank's for the video! Looking forward to seeing finished piece.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks Keith Kelly, I think you'll be impressed when you see the final outcome.

[@keithkelley7512]

I'm always impressed with your work. Still looking forward to one of your classes; just didn't realize how "swamped" I would be after retiring.......

[@quiltedmahogany]

@@keithkelley7512 ,I hear ya, I talk to a lot of my students that are now retired and they tell me they are busier than ever !

[@danceswithstone]

Admirable work David! Thanks for sharing your time and skill 👍

[@quiltedmahogany]

You are very welcome,thanks for watching!

[@bobbg9041]

There are a lot of woodworking channels and TV shows, I enjoy most of them but your's has to be the Crown Jewel. You blew us away with what you did on TV But I'd imagine its only part of what you've mastered and a fraction of your skills.

[@donketman2983]

Awesome video David! A lot of information in here. Thank you.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks Don, I'll be working on some more,stay tuned buddy.

[@kiwdwks]

Awesome...thanks for showing your technique!

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there Mark Aramaki, you are very welcome!

[@SeanRubino]

Awesome, David! I have been wondering how you did that for at least 8 years on your other wall sculptures. Mystery solved. Thanks for sharing.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Sean, you are very welcome buddy!

[@incorporeal3793]

That was very interesting to watch.

[@bobbg9041]

I've seen 2 big chunks that looked short of like that real thick boards like 4" or more 6-4' long they were sold at 250 and 650 each I doubt it was The tree all that wood is gone by now. You must have invested a lot of money into that wood. And it could not have gone to a better place, what you do is not wood working, its fine art. I've always loved your work. I wouldn't even know where to start for a price on the finished product. Its more then I could pay. Wow. And its just 1 more thing you've made to you. But you put everything into it. You really make some nice stuff. I hope who ever gets it enjoys it as much as you did making it.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thank you very much Bob.

[@DamienPollet]

That's three digits worth of veneer right there… can't even imagine the value of that board it was resawn from 🤑

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Looks like the glue squeeze out went all over the inside of your vac bag??

[@CiCis_Mom]

How long do you leave the piece in the vacuum press?

[@louisjcharlett683]

Hey David, I still have several 8/4 planks (16" - 18" wide) from "The Tree" I purchased as much as I could afford back in 1983-84 +/- The remaining planks are part of my "museum" I recognized the quilt figure right away. Lou Charlett

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey Louis, you are very fortunate indeed to have some of those boards from The Tree. Hang on to them and send me an email if you think you might want me to bandsaw some veneer for you.

[@louisjcharlett683]

I'm all set on band sawing. Thanks. I'm not sure I will ever want to cut them. What to do???

[@quiltedmahogany]

@@louisjcharlett683 , I'm interesting in purchasing some if you decide to let some go.Trades are good too.

[@johno6861]

Interesting way to approach the problem. Will be beautiful. Personally I would have gone with a diagonal twist to get the compound curve, but you probably have some design for grain pattern.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thanks John, I thought about a spiral twist but since I will be inlaying fish, I'm using the quilted mahogany in a horizontal pattern as a canvas for the fish.The other reason was that I had just enough veneer to cover the surface in horizontal mode.

[@johno6861]

David Marks , I do some large turned disk wall hangings but carve mine, mostly fish and birds and mostly in yellow cedar. Also do some large red cedar trays, mostly for the grain, that end up being wall hangings.

[@johnlockesmith]

@@johno6861 David Marks talked to you. I think you have to give money to charity now or something. Pay it forward, man.

[@quiltedmahogany]

@@johnlockesmith , hahahahah .... thanks John Lockesmith, but I'm just another woodworker like the rest of us here on planet earth, haha.

[@interpim1]

The wood from the tree is absolutely beautiful! The technique to apply this veneer seems pretty complex, and I'm sure tons of time to perfect. Do you know if there are small offcuts of The Tree wood available anywhere? I would love to get a small piece to make a pen with.

[@bobbg9041]

I'm sure plenty of people pick his scrap box, Just the scrap is priceless. But I doubt any of it is wasted. He's always showing some kind of tree or wood with the story to back it up.

[@terryholdredge6393]

WOW!!!

[@NolanTyrrell]

I prefer working with wood. I wasn't sure I wanted to watch this. I appreciate your skill and patience. But as I say, I prefer wood.

[@DsHardWoodCreations]

Appreciate the lesson. Subscribed

[@quiltedmahogany]

Thank you D's Hardwood Creations, I appreciate your subscribing !

[@AtticusDraco]

1st time viewer Nice presentation,, good stuff

[@wilcoxtube]

Wow, David - that looked like a hologram when you wet it! So much depth! Two questions. I noticed quite a bit of glue getting on the top surface of your vacuum bag. How did you get that cleaned off? Did it just peel? Also, what is that little wooden cupholder thing on top of your lathe? Simply for holding small parts? Thank you for the video explanation, really cool.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there wilcoxtube, yes quilted mahogany from The Tree is my first choice of all woods but it's so expensive that I do as much veneering as possible. It truly has a three dimensional effect to it when it's wet with water or has finish applied to it. My vacuum bags are heavy duty Polyurethane which resists the glue from bonding to it. Also I generally use wax paper to prevent squeeze out from bonding to the platen. The wooden cupholder thing (with magnets to attach it to my lathe) used to hold a light,but the cameraman fromWoodworks knocked it off and broke it so now it's just a cup holder.

[@reforzar]

Wow. This is awesome. It’s like hearing a long lost friend. This is a great piece, any chance it’s for sale?

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there Brian Prusa ! Thank you very much for your kind comments! The 36" diameter sculpture was commissioned by one of my students who said he really wanted to own something I made. What completed the deal was the fact that my student really wanted some Quilted Mahogany from "The Tree" and I agreed to veneer the entire surface with it.The 6" diameter piece is something that I will use to keep making more You Tube videos. I will demonstrate my inlay techniques on it as well as finishing and framing it. So it might be rather expensive by the time i complete it.

[@reforzar]

David Marks I look forward to seeing it. 👍🏻

[@elizavetanovikova1030]

​@@quiltedmahogany Good evening David ! i saw your very masterful inlay work with 2 different fish on your instagram , if you are really filming the process of creating these - its super exiting ! ! i ve been watching all inlay photos on instagram from very first photo you posted , i loved them so much , they look very unusual. Im espessially grateful that you are mentioning the detailes of the process and materials , we all know that such masters of craft have no time to answer thousand questions , but for those like me , who are learning , detailes and materials - this information is like a gold. Thank you very very much for that , thats truly act of real kindness , i m sencirely grateful.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Elizaveta Novikova, Thank you very much for your kind words. I do appreciate what you said very much. I have more videos to post but I haven’t been able to meet with my editor since the Covid-19 lockdown.

[@ErikPeterson1]

Great to see the video and David, are you the michelangelo of glue?

[@quiltedmahogany]

Erik Peterson, Hahahaha, I told you my secret, yes haha, I must confess I am the Michelangelo of glue ! Hahahaha and Eric since you know the inside story, I’m guessing you’re laughing too !

[@dalgguitars]

You're going to sand mahogany up to 1000 grit? Why? Or is this after a grain fill and many coats of finish? What are you using for grain fill? Sorry about all the questions.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there Dalg Guitars, the higher one sands,the better the wood looks and the greater the clarity of the grain patterns in my opinion. I'll post a video when it comes time to apply the finish and that should anser your questions. Thank you for your comments.

[@dalgguitars]

@@quiltedmahogany Looking forward to the video. thanks!

[@Peterbsullivan]

Nice

[@keithlackner7902]

LOVE IT!!!!!! The only thing that could have made this video any better would be a if you were playing the theme music to woodworks in the background at the start of the video.

[@DavidJMarks]

Hey Keith Lackner, thanks alot my friend!

[@jerseycornboy]

how is that a compound curve!?

[@mattgarcia9687]

Awesome!!

[@charlesschuster7963]

I don't see the sense of bagging this bit of work, if you will use a lathe to clean it up after the vacuum table, why not eliminate the middleman (vacuum press) and instead cut the curved surface on the lathe entirely?

[@WoodsGhost]

New to the channel here. Whys it called "The Tree"?

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there Zack Chambers. The Tree is called "The Tree" because there is only one tree that has been found (so far) with this extremely rare genetic mutation that resulted in a 3 dimensional figure with retilian veins and tortise shell like patterns. I've posted a link to the StewMac website that has info posted about it. www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Reference/The_Tree_The_Most_Notorious_Tonewood_in_the_World.html

[@WoodsGhost]

@@quiltedmahogany Dang, that's interesting! Thank you for the link. Sounds like it deserves that name.

[@WoodsGhost]

@@quiltedmahogany would you be interested in selling that practice piece upon completion? If so, I'd be interested to hear how much you'd like for it. (Or any small off cuts of "The Tree"). Thanks again for the reply!

[@quiltedmahogany]

@@WoodsGhost , thank you for inquiring. I will be using this piece for more demonstrations so stay tuned. I don't have any pieces of The Tree for sale except guitar sets.

[@WoodsGhost]

@@quiltedmahogany Thank you once more for replying. I'll be keeping an eye out for the videos to come.

[@bobbg9041]

Wall candy!

[@78779]

Urea Formaldehyde

[@donaldhenke2750]

sorry that was boring

[@quiltedmahogany]

No worries Donald, veneering isn't for everyone. Down the road I will do some turned wooden bowls and hollow vessels so hopefully you will enjoy those.

[@tamasmihaly1]

I have a strong suspicion that you are being compensated by the glue company. That's way, way too much. And what voids are you talking about? If there are voids, it hasn't been done correctly. Darn it. This was frustrating.

[@quiltedmahogany]

Hey there Tamas, No, I am not getting any money from the glue company or anybody else for that matter. I have spent my own money and my own time to create this video and I am offering it to the public free of charge to teach woodworkers about a very difficult form of veneer work. I happen to like using a lot of glue and that's just my opinion based on my 45 plus years of doing woodworking for a living. You are entitled to your own opinions and I'm sorry to read that you found this video frustrating. If you have some specific questions I will try to help you. I have owned and operated my own Woodworking School since 2005 and I have been recognized in many publications as a master craftsman. Please share with me your level of experience building furniture.

[@villoni]

Your picture is deceiving.