Applying Trumatch Veneers Products with
Contact Cement
Please read carefully before starting!
IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INSTALLER TO TEST AND DECIDE IF THE SUBSTRATES ARE SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION.
Adhesive
• Apply adhesive in a smooth solid coat.
• Apply full wet coat over 100% of both surfaces.
• Apply two coats on any porous substrates.
• Honour all working times set by adhesive manufacturer.
• Check with your adhesive manufacturer before using PVA adhesive with Trumatch® products.
• Sand the back of Trumatch® to enhance the bond of PVA adhesives.
Substrates
Do not attempt to apply Trumatch® products to the following substrates:
• Sheet rock, or drywall
• Any exterior surface
• Plastic laminate or melamine board unless correctly prepared.
• Spiral wound cardboard tubes unless correctly prepared.
• Apply two coats of contact adhesive to porous substrates.
Application
• Always use the centerline technique to start application
• Acclimate the Trumatch® products and the substrate before application
Pressure
• You must apply all possible pressure with a narrow rigid scraper.
• Do not use J-Rollers
• Do not use hammer blocks
• Scrape twice
Wood expands with moisture! Weak bonds will allow Trumatch® products to expand in the presence of moisture. This will invariably result in ridges or blisters. Trumatch International presents these application instructions as suggestions based on our experience with this product. However, due varying procedures and conditions, this information is given without obligation or warranty. We recommend that thorough testing of this product, adhesives and finishing materials be completed prior to final application. Trumatch International only warrants the quality of our products. We have no control over the use and processing of Trumatch products therefore the application is exclusively the responsibility of the user. In the event of any claim, Trumatch International liability will not exceed the value of the Trumatch products purchased from Trumatch International or authorized distributor.
How To Apply Trumatch Veneers Products with Contact Cement
Step 1: Tools & Supplies
Do not use J-Rollers or hammer blocks even though you may use them with high pressure plastic laminates
Attain a stiff- edged scraper, or the equivalent.
Many readily available contact adhesives work well with Trumatch veneer products. Both solvent based and water based adhesives are acceptable. We recommend using a roller grade adhesive and following the manufacturers instructions precisely.
Have on hand a supply of bare, 1/8″ hardboard separator strips. The separators need to be long enough, and enough of them to completely cover the area coated with contact adhesive. Two separators, half the width of the substrate may be used, but using multiple separators about 6″ wide will make it easier to slip and remove them as you make contact across the panel.
Contact adhesive adheres on contact. Do not attempt to install your Trumatch products without separator strips.
Step 2: Veneer & Substrate Preparation
• Acclimate substrates and Trumatch® products for 48 hours.
• Determine how many coats of adhesive the substrate will require.
• Porous substrates will require two coats
• Lay out Trumatch® products and allow them to relax.
Boards or panels may be used to flatten sheets showing any curl.
Coat both substrate and back of Trumatch® products with a smooth layer of contact adhesive. We recommend rolling. If adhesive is sprayed, it must coat 100% of both surfaces. Make sure you honour manufacturers Instructions concerning open time.
Adhesive coverage is the key element in successful application of Trumatch® products.
Example of inadequate adhesive coverage. Example of adequate adhesive coverage.
Some fullness or curl is normal in Trumatch® products. Fully acclimating sheets under weight will reduce this situation. Because tight grain woods such as Maple are most susceptible to curl caused by moisture, they will require close attention. When covering large panels, use the centerline method outlined below.
Step 3: Veneer Applications
Apply Trumatch® products to substrate
Do not attempt to start on one edge of a wide panel. Use the centerline method of applying the sheet to the substrate.
• Lay out separator strips on substrate.
• Make initial contact down the centerline of the sheet and substrate.
• Grasp the East half of the sheet and pull it taut to remove any fullness.
• Lower the tightly stretched sheet and move the separator strip away from the centerline
• Using the Trumatch® tool, scrape the contacted area hard to bond the two adhesive surfaces.
• Repeat process for the West half.
• Using your body weight and both hands to exert maximum pressure through Trumatch® product into the adhesive, scrape the entire panel again with the Trumatch® scraper.
The Trumatch® scraper is designed for joining surfaces with contact adhesive.The edges are square cut. Do not relieve these edges by rounding them. The square edges insure maximum pressure for the best possible bond.
Step 4: Inspection & Finishing
Inspect the panel by shining a light across the grain. Insure that any problems are corrected prior to proceeding.
Types of bond problems
Ridges
Ridges result from inadequate adhesive coverage or adhesive manufacturers drying time is not being honored. Adhesive that is not dry allows the veneer to expand across the grain to form ridges in the grain direction, and generally all across the face. Allow adhesive to fully dry. If adhesive has legs when sheet is pulled off substrate, adhesive was not fully cured before bonding.
Bubbles
Bubbles occur as a result of lack of adhesive or insufficient pressure applied during application. Using J-rollers will generally result in bubbles. Use Trumatch® scraper to make bond. Overlap strokes. Finishing materials or high moisture conditions will cause veneer to expand. Areas of marginal bond will pop up into blisters. Slit the blister and check for adhesive coverage.
Bubbles may be repairable. Slit in grain direction, and heat with a warm iron to reactivate adhesive. If adhesive coverage is scant the bubble will not adhere.
Ironing bubbles
If iron is used to repair bubbles, place a piece of Kraft paper between the iron and veneer to keep from scorching surface. Keep iron moving.
Sanding
The face veneer on Trumatch® products is thin and normally does not require sanding. Sanding may result in sand through. Do not use any grit coarser than 220. Use one thickness of sandpaper with fingertips.
Finishing
Most finishing materials are suitable for use on Trumatch® products. It is however vary important that all finishing materials be tested for appropriate results. Water based finishes will cause veneer to try to expand. It is vital that the bond is well executed.
Touch up
Fillers such as Star, Mohawk and Foamwood may be used to fill small voids in the surface of Trumatch® products. These fillers work best if thinned with lacquer thinner to a syrupy consistency and sanded while still wet.
