Dado Cut in Veneered Panel?

[HoosierBuddy]

Guys,

I'm starting making panels for an 8-inch deep Wall Niche cabinet I'm going to make out of QS White Oak.

I've got some nice paper backed QS Oak Veneer left from another project I am planning to use to veneer a 11-1/4" X 35-3/4" rectangle of 3/4 MDF to make the back of this thing.

The unit will have a top and bottom and 2 shelves. I'm planning on making horizontal dado cuts so all of these will lock into the back panel.

QUESTION: What's the best way to do this?

1. Apply Veneer to MDF. After drying cut the slots with a dado stack. Hope for the best.

2. Apply Veneer to MDF. After Drying SCORE the edges of the slot with a razor knife. Use a normal blade on my table saw to cut the sides of the slots. Dado out the middle of the slots.

3. Cut the slots first. Apply the veneer. Allow to dry. Cut out the sections of veneer over the slots with a razor knife

At this point I have a piece of 3/4" MDF cut to size and a big sheet of paper backed veneer next to it. I have lots of choices, just not sure which is best. I picture that dado stack splintering the heck out of my oak veneer....but maybe I'm over thinking this.

 

[Jgaz]

If it were me, because you have the option, I’d invert your list and do 3, 2, 1, in that order.

 

[DGersic]

I don’t like the idea of pushing OSB through a dado stack. Stand well clear of the kickback if you do this.

If you can safely feed this to a table saw, I’d glue the veneer down, then cut the edges with a good sharp high tooth count blade. Cut the remainder of the dado out with a router.

Or cut the edges with a circular saw, same idea, then use a router to clear out the rest of the cut.

 

[PCustoms]

At this point I have a piece of 3/4" OSB cut to size and a big sheet of paper backed veneer next to it. I have lots of choices, just not sure which is best. I picture that dado stack splintering the heck out of my oak veneer....but maybe I'm over thinking this.

MDF or OSB?

I think OSB is going to telegraph they the veneer and look really terrible...

 

[DGersic]

MDF or OSB?

I think OSB is going to telegraph they the veneer and look really terrible...

OP fixed it. It’s MDF, was OSB when I first read it.

Still don’t think I’d use a dado stack on it.

 

[PCustoms]

OP fixed it. It’s MDF, was OSB when I first read it.

Said OSB when I quoted it

 

[HoosierBuddy]

OP fixed it. It’s MDF, was OSB when I first read it.

Still don’t think I’d use a dado stack on it.

Yeah...I had it in there twice, it said MDF (correct) in the second sentence and then I said OSB (incorrect) in the last sentence. Too many acronyms running around in my brain.

Thanks. I've got a nice 12" X 12" scrap piece of MDF left from cutting the 3 foot section out of a 4-foot wide sheet. If I decide to go the dado route, I'll try it on the scrap piece a few times first to get a feel for how it goes. If issues, I'll switch gears.

 

[tarbellb]

You could also sandwich the board in question, creating a splinter guard. Only takes 1/8" of material to do

Or masking tape the cut, then peel tape from outside TOWARDS CUT EDGE

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Thanks guys.

What I did, not sure I'd recommend it....was to cut the 2 slots in the MDF first, then I cut my veneer into 3 sections and glued it on like that. After the glue set, I trimmed the edges of the veneer.

The issue I ran into was trying to use a razor knife at the edge of the slots. Without anything to support the veneer overhanging the slot, I couldn't cut it.

I ended up having to cut a piece of wood the width and depth of the slot, slid it into the slot from the side and used it to cut against. Not a very elegant solution, but it got the job done without splintering any veneer.

The project is progressing. I cut the sides, top and bottom last night. Next up...shelves.

 

[gba2331]

If this was for the back only, maybe make the dado slot thinner than the shelf and trim the end of the shelf down to fit. That way the rough edges of the dado are covered by the wider shelf.

 

[jar944]

A decent dado set with a fresh zero clearance insert should have worked, if you wanted a belt and suspenders approach a shallow scoring cut with the blade set a few thousandths above the insert would help.

And if you wanted to triple up on assurances, climb cut the scoring pass.