Working with Wood Veneer: Modern Walnut End Table
This week on the channel, I’m walking through the process of building a modern walnut end table using quarter-cut walnut veneer. This project is a great way to build foundational woodworking skills while learning practical veneer techniques you can apply to many future projects.
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At its core, this piece is very much like a cabinet: essentially a box, with a few smaller boxes inside that become drawers. Simple construction, but elevated with thoughtful design and careful veneer work.
Building the Case
We start by building the main cabinet box from ¾-inch plywood. Plywood provides stability and a flat, consistent substrate—ideal for veneering. Once the case is assembled, molding is made and applied to band the edges of the cabinet, hiding the exposed plywood edges and giving the piece a more refined look.
Veneer Layout & Waterfall Grain
One of the key design details on this table is the waterfall veneer that wraps continuously around the cabinet. To make this work, it’s critical to label your veneer as you cut it. I like to mark each piece left, top, and right, with an arrow pointing toward the front of the cabinet. This simple step ensures that when it’s time to apply the veneer, everything goes back in the correct orientation and the grain flows seamlessly.
Planning Veneer Application
When working with veneer, having a clear application plan is just as important as the cut list. Even though veneer seams are minimal and often difficult to see, they still exist and deserve careful attention. The order in which the veneer is applied plays a big role in how clean those seams appear.
For cabinets like this, I apply veneer in the following sequence:
- Back
- Sides
- Top
This approach helps keep the seams clean, consistent, and as unobtrusive as possible.
Contact Cement Tips
For bonding the veneer, I use contact cement, applying two coats to both the veneer and the cabinet. The first coat tends to absorb into the substrate, so the second coat ensures a stronger, more reliable bond. This is a method I’ve used for decades with consistently good results.
Each coat is allowed to dry for about 15–20 minutes. Once fully dry, the veneer is positioned using thin sticks. Since contact cement only sticks to contact cement, the sticks allow you to slide and align the veneer perfectly before committing it to the surface.
Trimming, Sanding & Finishing
After the veneer is applied, the overhang is trimmed flush using a router with a flush-cut bit. The entire piece is then carefully sanded, being mindful not to sand through the veneer. The project is finished with several coats of satin lacquer, which adds protection while letting the walnut’s natural beauty shine.
Ready to Build?
If you’re planning to build this project—or any of my projects—I highly recommend watching the full video first to get warmed up and familiar with the process. And if you enjoyed this build, be sure to check out the other veneer projects on my website for more inspiration.
Walnut End Table Plans
Build a timeless walnut end table with clear, easy-to-follow plans designed for woodworkers of all skill levels.
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