Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 22 minutes ago
The stability of plywood is incredible, but those exposed layers? They look like stacked sandstone—hardly fine woodworking.
The common fix is to buy a roll of iron-on veneer, press it onto the edge with a heating iron, and suddenly your plywood has a clean, six-sided look that seems like solid wood.
But here’s the problem. Store-bought veneer rarely matches your plywood, meaning it stands out instead of blending in. Worse, it’s so thin that sanding can easily ruin it, exposing the plywood underneath. And when trimming the edges, you risk chipping if you don’t do it just right.
So instead of fighting with thin, mismatched veneer, a better way is to make your own— from the same plywood. Start by cutting strips from your scraps to the exact width of your plywood edges. Then, slice off the veneer layer to the thickness you want—thicker means easier handling and fewer issues during sanding and finishing.
But glue matters too. To prevent peeling over time, first apply a 50/50 mix of water and wood glue to both the plywood and the veneer. Let it dry, then apply regular wood glue for a bond that lasts.
Now, your plywood edges will match perfectly, without cheap-looking seams or fragile veneer. A simple upgrade that makes plywood look like fine woodworking.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Les N.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
D. Brown
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
The stability of plywood is incredible, but those exposed layers? They look like stacked sandstone—hardly fine woodworking.
The common fix is to buy a roll of iron-on veneer, press it onto the edge with a heating iron, and suddenly your plywood has a clean, six-sided look that seems like solid wood.
But here’s the problem. Store-bought veneer rarely matches your plywood, meaning it stands out instead of blending in. Worse, it’s so thin that sanding can easily ruin it, exposing the plywood underneath. And when trimming the edges, you risk chipping if you don’t do it just right.
So instead of fighting with thin, mismatched veneer, a better way is to make your own— from the same plywood. Start by cutting strips from your scraps to the exact width of your plywood edges. Then, slice off the veneer layer to the thickness you want—thicker means easier handling and fewer issues during sanding and finishing.
But glue matters too. To prevent peeling over time, first apply a 50/50 mix of water and wood glue to both the plywood and the veneer. Let it dry, then apply regular wood glue for a bond that lasts.
Now, your plywood edges will match perfectly, without cheap-looking seams or fragile veneer. A simple upgrade that makes plywood look like fine woodworking.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Les N.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
D. Brown
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
