Cutting veneer with mat knife

[crokett]

I got a mat kit for Christmas and wonder if the included knife will also cut veneer? It would be handy to be able to use that nice fence and straight edge

[kwgeorge]

This is a Yes and No or more of a “It depends” response. Consider first why you don’t cut veneer with a knife. A knife will leave behind a cut line that is Vee’ed such as this;



For bookmatching this is a bad thing as it is very easy to sand through and expose more of the glue line making the joint line very visible. On the other hand if you are just rough cutting you could cut with a knife then sand slightly with a block to square the cut edge.

So, the answer is, it depends!


Ken

[drumpriest]

I read the topic, and thought " I should tell him about the bevel issue ", then saw that Ken responded. :-)

If can use if for certain things, like cutting veneer to the size of a panel for frame and panel, etc...but as Ken points out, not so good for book or quarter matching. Thus the veneer saw.

[cabinetman]

If can use if for certain things, like cutting veneer to the size of a panel for frame and panel, etc...but as Ken points out, not so good for book or quarter matching. Thus the veneer saw.

Using veneer cutting tools may be proportionate to geezerdom. I personally don't have as good a luck with veneer saws as I do with X-Acto knives, mat knives, or just plain ole utility knives. I have used the veneer saws a lot and I guess the tool of choice is what works for the individual craftsman. For jointing, I hold the cutter in a slight angle allowing the back edge slightly relieved. In cutting designs and or mating inlays, the saws don't work for me at all.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[siliconbauhaus]

"geezerdom"....hahahahahah

[whitecobra]

We use the wheel cutters that you buy in the lady's sewing section of Wally World
It has replaceable cutter wheels and are cheap AND easy to use
They come in several diameters but we use "big" since most of the cuts we make in veneers are straight. THe bigger the diameter the easier it is to track a line. The narrower the wheel the easier it is to cut curves and amke turns
Dr Dave