centre console trim

Has anyone had a go at putting real walnut veneer on thier console trim?

Mine is looking a bit sad now as the top portion above the clock has faded in the sun. Im not a cabinet maker by any stretch of the imagination, but Ive used veneer on flat surfaces a few times before... but not around curved radiuses. That said, I cant see there being too many issues, its probably just a case of steaming and layering.I think I might grab a spare one off ebay and have an experiment.

Thoughts...?

Invent a vacuum bag to put it in & let the atmosphere do the rest.

actually... thats not a bad idea... pre soak the veneer, plastic bag... vacuum packer... as it happens I know where there is on of those sat idle right now.... I feel a sperryment is in order

Steaming the veneer would be a better bet. If my memory (memory, that's a laugh) serves me you have to soften the lignin in the wood so it becomes plastic & then it will form. The problem you have is at the corners; you are bending in two planes on sharp external & internal radii Your other problem will be with adhesives; steaming will leave the wood damp & unless you select an appropriate glue you'll come unstuck. You could possibly microwave the wood, that would keep it dry, I'm sure the lignin softens at around boiling point.
There again it might all be bollocks.

Ikea do vacuum bags, meant for clothes storage but would do the job.

yup, thats actually what I was thinking of.

Im thinking, soak the veneer, then run a hot iron over it to make it pliable, spray contact adhesive on the console trim, mate up and vacuum pack... then trim and sand.

console trim off ebay is £20 for a cheapy, and pack of assorted veneer sheets is under a fiver from hobbys catalogue

has to be worth a test