Preparing to Install

• 1). Prepare the edge of your material for installation by cleaning away any dust, debris or adhesive that may be left if you have veneered the face of the material. Lacquer thinner works well for removing adhesive. Allow it to dry completely before applying heat to the edge.
  
  
• 2). Sand the edge smooth, being careful to keep the sander at a 90-degree angle to the face of the material. Avoid allowing the sander to stand in one place too long to prevent dips in the edge.
  
  
• 3). Select a veneer tape 1/16 inch wider than the edge of the material. Measure and cut a piece of veneer 1 inch longer than the edge you intend to veneer. Cut the veneer with sharp scissors or a utility knife. Straighten the veneer, if it is curled from being rolled, by gently rolling it in the opposite direction.
  
  
• 4). Plug in your iron and allow it to heat up. Set it on the highest available setting. Do not use any water in the iron. Run the hot iron over a piece of wax paper to clean any residue from the face of the iron.
  
  
• 5). Hold the veneer in place and glue side down, overlapping at one end approximately 1/2 inch, with the veneer centered on the edge of the material.
  
  

Applying the Veneer

• 1). Press the hot iron onto the veneer, beginning at the end of the material. Do not hold the iron in one spot for more than a few seconds to avoid burns. Keep it moving over the section until the glue is well melted.
  
  
• 2). Press the section of veneer tape firmly against the edge of your material with a well-sanded wood block or 1-inch dowel. Rub over the section repeatedly until it adheres firmly to the material.
  
  
• 3). Move the iron gradually down the edge of the material. Work the iron and the wood block or dowel in turn over sections 3 to 4 inches long, slightly overlapping the section before, to the end of the material.
  
  
• 4). Trim the veneer edges with a utility knife or mill bastard file by pressing the blade of the knife or file through the veneer against the edge of the material. A hand-held veneer trimmer, available in hardware stores, can also be used. Designs vary, but in general veneer trimmers have a slot with blades on each side. The slot is run down the edge of the material, trimming both edges of the veneer at once. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for best results.
  
  
• 5). Sand the faces of the material along the edges of the veneer to finish the job of smoothing out the edge. Clean any hot melt glue that seeps onto the face of the material with a rag dampened in lacquer thinner.