Those look fantastic!
Do you use regular wood glue for the iron on method?
Anyone know what to thin shellac with if you can't get denatured alcohol?
I have some info in post 20 about the approach, but yup, it is regular wood glue (Titebond II). I would have preferred HeatLock, but it was sold out.
Some caveats - I did experience minor cracking in 2 panels and I had a few small bubbles. Some adjustment in technique seemed to have solved those issues, but there was some learning curve for me.
Also, you can’t tell in the pictures but the veneer is not totally flat. This is sort of hard to describe, but it has a tightly curled figure. When you rub your fingers over the figure it is a little bit lumpy (you can feel the curls). I could not sand it out (afraid I would sand through the veneer).
It’s not a big deal for me. These will be satin when done and I think they will look good. But, I wanted to note it, as I suspect the ironing process has contributed (lots of moisture changes).
I have never worked with raw veneer before, never worked with a curly wood veneer, and never veneered in any way other than iron-on, but I suspect that things would be more flat and a bit better overall with another technique (ie vacuum press or cold press technique… maybe contact cement but that seems to have mixed reports on the internet). If there is anyone reading with more experience - feel feee to chime in!
I think you have to use alcohol to thin shellac. I actually used everclear (180 proof grain alcohol) rather than denatured alcohol, just like noted by PresbyByrd. I used about equal parts zinsser canned shellac and everclear.