I like the veneers and banding, I've done a lot of fuming over the years but never seen oak go that dark before, was it fumed before pressing? Mahogany fumes quite well too, not as dramatic as that but it gains a deeper reddy purple colour that looks very rich when sprayed.
What are you using for a veneer press? Knowing you something as cool as that pin router of yours
This is a great US source for veneer and tutorials:
www.veneersupplies.com/He also sells vacuum veneer press components. I considered that option since I have a vacuum pump that was included with the pin router. But I decided to keep it simple. Two body blanks, 4 crowned cauls and 10 clamps. about one hour to 'construct' it.
The fumed oak came that way. I bought 9 sheets, 14" x 42" for around $40 on a closeout from the above vendor. Also a'starter kit' of essential veneer supplies. Including some other veneer (100" 14" wide once its bookmatched flame maple) I'm under $200 total for materials, tools and supplies.
Flamed oak matched and taped.
Binding: For the channel:Router table made from melamined particle board shelving, Porter Cable router, and rabbet bit (1/2" shank) and mutiple bearings direct from China. $12. I don't do Screw Mac. It's much easier to cut binding channel with a table set up than what seems to be the traditional hand held over the top router method. Acetone for cementing ABS binding in applicator bottle and super masking tape.
Takes less then a minute for the acetone to set the binding, lots of Youtube tutorials out there. My twist is using an applicator bottle instead of a brush for the acetone.
I have a soft spot for bindings so I really like those a lot. That fumed oak veneer should look great clear coated.
Yeah , I agree, there is a lot of depth in the oak that will come out with clearcoating. Next time I'll bookmatch it. There's also other possibilities...