There’s nothing better than shop made plywood panels, but gluing boards together can be a pain, especially when using cauls and a million clamps.  You could use a vacuum press, but it generally requires some pricey equipment and can seem like overkill if you make smaller things like I do.  Instead, I built a homemade veneer press to clamp together boards.  The design is similar to a classic book press, used to flatten book pages.

My shop made veneer press will allow me to laminate boards up to 12 inches wide and 18 inches long.  Outside of furniture, just about all of my projects are under those dimensions.  The construction is fairly straight forward.  I used two pieces of MDF to make a thick base.  It has oak posts and beams that run across the width.  Two veneer press clamps are installed per beam.

The clamps have over 2,000 pounds of clamping pressure, but that’s overkill for laminating panels.  Snug up the clamps, and give them a slight turn and that’s all this veneer press needs to get even clamping pressure across the entire surface of the material.

 •• About NewtonMakes••

I’m Billy and I make fun things.  Sometimes, it’s something I need like tool storage ideas.  Other times it’s silly or nerdy stuff that I want to build. If you want to get ideas for making stuff, or just want to watch something entertaining then make sure you subscribe.

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Here’s a list of tools and materials that I used to make this project. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

•• Tools & Materials ••

My Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/newtonmakes

• Veneer press clamps: https://amzn.to/3Fh6a6w

• Brass Setup Bars: https://amzn.to/3hDT350

• Table Saw: https://amzn.to/2RwQTJa

• Ripping Blade: https://amzn.to/30ZOJEV

• Cross Cut Blade: https://amzn.to/3kezMHf

• Bosch Router: https://amzn.to/30Yus2A

• Planer: https://amzn.to/38LarPW 

• Jointer: https://amzn.to/310uabK

• Drill Press: https://amzn.to/36yRj5U

• Narex chisels:  https://amzn.to/36dM4dk

• Titebond Glue: https://amzn.to/3pjRPAu

• Combination square: https://amzn.to/3aPMN6n

• Random Orbit Sander https://amzn.to/2RxjkXo 

• 120 grit sandpaper: https://amzn.to/2QW835c

• 180 grit sandpaper: https://amzn.to/39y5kVM

• Briwax: https://amzn.to/321dxxp