laminate vs wood veneer

[nandac]

in a speaker is there any advantange of having a wood veneer finish over a laminate finish - than mere appearance?

sonically?

would real wood last longer/more durable than laminate?

appreciate the feedback.

 

[nandac]

what? no views?

!!!

 

[AmitKumar]

I dont think the use of laminate will impact the sound quality.

Further a good quality laminate will be easy to use, partly scratch proof, more durable and cheaper as compared to wood veneer.

Real wood will be more durable, just get is polished once in every in 5 years, however is prone to attack from termites. At the same time it will be difficult to get the wood for making the speakers and will be a costly affair. Not sure how it will impact the sound quality.

 

[ranjeetrain]

Wood veneer integrates with the rest of the cabinet better, which is usually built out of MDF. Laminate, if not pasted absolutely correctly will induce vibrations messing with the imaging.

 

[deba]

Make cabinet with MDF not wood ....finish can be wood veneer which will look rich..use matte lacquer over wood veneer after polishing to give it a long lasting .........laminates are always cheap alternatives but easy to maintain.....

 

[denom]

Wood veneer will make you tear your hair out in frustration if you do not have know how to bond it minus nails. Difficult to work with but the sonics & appearance are worth it.

Yes you can use nails but then the appearance will be inconsistent around the area with the head less nails & uneven as well.

 

[magma]

ermmm

i thought
wood venear is easier to bond than laminate
laminate has the smoother side and is more prone to getting loose

wood vinear is more porous so it bonds faster

at least the above is my expereince

NANDAC
laminate needs no polish
wood vinear will need sanding then polish then mealmaine which often costs as much as the vinear sheet itself

the costs of vinearing will be close to double or more as compared to using ready laminates

laminates have only one issue
they dont integrate well because you cant sand the edges
Hence the edges remain sharp and you can see the joint line

However for a first time DIY i would advice laminate since its a cheaper option

 

[saikatbiswas82]

Wood veener comes in 4mm thickness. So matching corners is always a challenge. If you go ahead with wood veeners, get in touch with some experienced carpenter first.

A polished veener always looks far better than any laminate (IMO only).

In case you are concerned about pasting, use Araldite instead of Favicol. This might cost some extra money.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

4mm isn't veneer --- it's wood!

Veneer is very thin. Like a thickish sheet of paper. It is made by shaving it off a rotating log with a very sharp blade. That's what results in the repeating grain patterns.

But I agree with your "IMO" --- veneer is real wood, laminate might be, but doesn't have anything like the same look and feel.

Applying and finishing it, though, is a real skill. I had a friend who took it up as a hobby, and over several years I saw his pieces (including complex marquetry) progress from looking very rough to looking professional.

 

[nandac]

hey guys i am not talking anything about doing the lamination or finishing myself.

a speaker i am looking to buy, the company (omega speakers) has an option of laminate finish or wood veneer finish. the latter is $200 more. so i was wondering ...

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Oh! That's different.

I'd say its a matter of appearance, rather than anything else.

How much does that matter for you? How much do think that speakers should be good-looking furniture as well as producers of sound? How long are you likely to keep them? Can you easily afford the veneer, or are the speakers themselves stretching the budget as it is? Does the laminate one look great anyway?

As the song says: more questions than answers!

 

[denom]

Kitnaa h@r#%^

you could have just said so rather than have all of us go out & help you with our theories & experiences wrt DIY

Go for veneer finish, the extra money is worth it.

 

[nandac]

sorry man. i simply did not think in the diy angle at all.

 

[GeorgeO]

Veneer is very thin. Like a thickish sheet of paper. It is made by shaving it off a rotating log with a very sharp blade. That's what results in the repeating grain patterns.

Thad
First part is correct. Second part- high value timber logs are veneered using veneer slices ,and the technique is not like peeling, but slicing:

VENEERS HORIZONTAL SLICER - YouTube

 

[GeorgeO]

slicer, sorry not slices

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Interesting, but... we are both right

See this: Spindleless Log Peeling Veneer Production Line (JAMUNA ENGINEERING COMPANY +91-9896015530) - YouTube

 

[magma]

sirji's

vinear actually does come in thickness of 3mm ( other than the thin sheets you guys are referring to)
i use them quite often

helps me match and round off better
without having the tension of the MDF getting exposed

 

[keith_correa]

Laminate, done well looks cool and almost seamless at the edges. It will not affect the sound at all and for a difference of $200, I'd go with laminate. But then, I'm cheap

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I learn another thing about veneer!

Thanks Magma.

 

[Shivam]

hey guys i am not talking anything about doing the lamination or finishing myself.

a speaker i am looking to buy, the company (omega speakers) has an option of laminate finish or wood veneer finish. the latter is $200 more. so i was wondering ...

Are these the finishes available -
CABINETS ?

I like the laminates too apart from the veneers and for the saved 200, you can buy some good music.