Filler/repair for veneer panel

[PCustoms]

Got a bunch of shaker cabinet doors in hickory I'm working to finish and install. No real indication of what the "front" should be, but one face seems to have a slightly eased edge and this in general is the best looking face.

A few panels have had some less then desirable grain or blemishes in the veneer, so I've flipped this over and eased the edge to match the rest.

I've got one that has a bad spot in the center panel, but has a super dark section on the other face that's looks out of place, So I can't just flip it

Any ideas how to fix this spot? These are getting a clear finish waterborne poly.

 

[Codyboy]

Is the veneer real wood?
Ive used plain water to swell an area then sand it down.
May not work on that though because it looks textured.
However if you are careful with sanding the swollen area it could work.
Maybe

 

[PCustoms]

Is the veneer real wood?
Ive used plain water to swell an area then sand it down.
May not work on that though because it looks textured.
However if you are careful with sanding the swollen area it could work.
Maybe

Yes, the veneer is real...

I tried to raise the grain already and it really didn't help, this defect is too deep. Something hit this spot or the grain pulled bad for some reason, can't quite tell.

Probably going to have to use a filler. Emptied the sander filter and am collecting hickory dust right now, not sure what glue to use.

 

[jar944]

It's tear out, hickory does that. It's going to be really tough to get anything nit to stand out there. Filler will be noticeable and a patch needs to be the length of the panel.

On a solid door you could possibly take a card scraper and remove most of that. Not sure if you have enough thickness on a veneer.

Can you send the door back?

 

[The Cobbler]

Trena from Johns Furniture repair on you tube uses a furniture epoxy and then "paints" in the grain and blends it with toners etc. she is very good at her craft and repairs are virtually un noticed

 

[PCustoms]

It's tear out, hickory does that.

Yep, one of the reasons I didn't make these myself...

It's going to be really tough to get anything nit to stand out there. Filler will be noticeable and a patch needs to be the length of the panel.

On a solid door you could possibly take a card scraper and remove most of that. Not sure if you have enough thickness on a veneer.

Kind of what I figured. Pretty sure there isn't enough thickness to scrape it down. Was hoping for some trick I haven't seen yet

Can you send the door back?

Kind of where I'm leaning. Going to try to raise the grain again today and then see about a return/replacement tomorrow.

 

[jar944]

Yep, one of the reasons I didn't make these myself...



Kind of what I figured. Pretty sure there isn't enough thickness to scrape it down. Was hoping for some trick I haven't seen yet



Kind of where I'm leaning. Going to try to raise the grain again today and then see about a return/replacement tomorrow.

From the picture it's missing a chunk, raising the grain likely isn't going to do anything.

 

[PCustoms]

From the picture it's missing a chunk, raising the grain likely isn't going to do anything.

Yep, caught me being optimistic lol

 

[Codyboy]

Instead of just water to raise it what about sanding sealer?
Just spitballing, as i hate finishing work and I'm not good at it.
Ive made several projects and when it comes to sanding , staining and finish , I get about halfway and give up. Lol
It doesn't look very deep in the pic, but does have some fuzzies . Did you try just sanding it to get rid of the fuzzies?

 

[RTM]

Buddy of mine who does vintage veneer repair will cut an irregular patch (cloud shaped) of a similar veneer, and similar hole in the wood, makes it harder for the eye to pick it up.

Or just inquire about sending it back, or maybe buying a new door (if they don't play nice, as your labor cost....), as you aren't repairing an irreplaceable antique.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I would not be able to fix that and since they are new doors I would definitely send it back for a replacement. Veneer on new cabinets is extremely thin. I have experienced sand through with just the minimal amount of sanding and then it is no turning back on hiding that.

 

[larry4406]

I think I am in the return/replace camp as well.

 

[PCustoms]

I got sidetracked this week with other things and haven't been in the shop since Sunday.

Headed down now to get the stove going and plan to spend the afternoon working on these. Haven't settled on what I'm doing yet but need to reach out to the vendor.

 

[RonnieC]

Haven't settled on what I'm doing yet but need to reach out to the vendor.

Sounds like the best option.

 

[PCustoms]

Here's the "back" of the door, if it weren't for the one dark section I'd flip it:



Need to take a step back and look at the overall doors in that section to see how it will blend.

Here's a random pic of one of the upper doors I took earlier