VQ 15: After my veneer arrives, what is the best way to store it?
If your veneer arrives rolled up, it’s best to unroll it (slowly and carefully) and store it horizontally. In an ideal situation, you should place a board on top of the veneer to minimize seasonal changes in moisture content which can cause ripples. At the very least, a cover should be placed over the veneer to prevent color fading caused by exposure to UV and fluorescent light. Some veneers will arrive with tape on the ends to prevent splitting during transit. To remove the tape without splitting the veneer, pull it off in the direction of the grain. If you pull it across the grain, it may tear the veneer. Some companies recommend that you leave the tape on the veneer until you are ready to use it. I don’t recommend this practice. Why? Because veneers are capable of expanding and contracting with even the slightest change in humidity. The tape can cause the veneer to buckle when it tries to expand or split when it tries to contract. If your veneer has a split, you can prevent it from
