Help with veneer

[Halfathumb]

As mentioned in an earlier post, "removing veneer". I'm trying to remove the old, but it's not going real well except for certain spots. I'm thinking I'll fill in the spots where the veneer is removed with wood filler and sand smooth to put down the contact cement and the veneer. Anyone have any experience with this? Just for the record, this pew is from a very old church but I'm not convinced it's not hide glue. A few years ago I did the same thing a lot easier with a different pew. The curve where the back & seat come together is curved making it hard to scrap.

[Stwood_]

Well, maybe powersand it off, using 60 grit?

I don't trust filler when it's applied thick. Need to use thin coats, drying throughly between coats.
And I don't like doing that either.

[AHill]

How thick is the veneer?  Every pew I've ever seen has been solid wood - usually oak.  I can't imagine someone using a veneer where people are going to sit all the time.  That said, no matter whether it's hide glue or some other glue, a heat gun will soften the adhesive to allow a scraper or something else to peel it off.

[fredhargis]

What you want to do will work, but I would use something else for the filler. I've done this with smaller areas while refacing cabinets, filling the voids/damage and veneer over it. But I've used Bondo, which worked well but is not as good (IMHO) as the JB Weld wood epoxy.

[Halfathumb]

Allan; Dah, it probably isn't veneer as we know it today. That'll explain the problems I'm having.

Fred, That sounds like a better solution using JB Weld epoxy.

Thanks