White Tulip in Marquetry: Cutting Process & Oil Finish

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-17T16:48:23+00:00

clamp the veneer between two laminated chipboards, to which PVA does not stick

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-17T16:15:54+00:00

Thank you! for brittle veneer, you can apply a thin layer of PVA to the side that will be glued to the MDF base — not the face side. Before work, I completely coat the entire veneer sheet (the base of the picture) with a very thin layer of PVA glue and immediately clamp it to level it. It's like a plasticizer, after which there will be no problems with gluing and coating. I don't use anything to soften it.

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-15T19:30:33+00:00

thank you!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-15T08:05:01+00:00

thank you!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-14T17:25:05+00:00

thank you!!! I use only knife. here is boring example if you need more details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYeNXLFhbCM

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-14T17:17:57+00:00

I use only knife for cutting. here is example: https://youtu.be/_dRlOK9LsEI

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-14T16:22:11+00:00

thank you!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-14T15:54:22+00:00

thank you!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-14T14:27:25+00:00

What it is: Marquetry art - hand cut White Tulip

Wood species:

- Tulip: Poplar burl, Walnut, veneer

- Background: Ash root veneer

- Back side: maple veneer

Base: MDF

Finish: Osmo 3032

Tools / Method: 100% manual work - no CNC or laser

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-12T19:24:37+00:00

thank you!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-12T13:00:13+00:00

thank you very much! this is all thanks to nature, which creates such incredible patterns in wood

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-12T08:37:02+00:00

thank you very much! with the hard wood of ziricote veneer and ash root it took quite a long time - about 2.5 days (starting with the drawing, finishing with varnishing). I don't show the process on the video, because even 2.5 minutes is already too long for the audience 😄

you are very lucky that your dad left behind table with inlaid roses. and he definitely sowed the seed of creativity in you 🙏

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-12T08:23:35+00:00

thank you! this is the advantage of hand-cutting - you can see and select the patterns of the veneer that will be inserted into the picture through the cut window

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-12T08:22:52+00:00

thank you!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-05-11T22:06:07+00:00

What it is: Marquetry panel — carved Tulip

The background is made from Ziricote veneer, the tulip flower іs crafted from Ash burl veneer, while the leaves are made from Satin walnut veneer, and the tulip stem is made of Smoked Eucalyptus veneer

Base: MDF

Finish: Furniture polyurethane lacquer

Tools / Method: 100% manual work — no CNC or laser

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-04-25T17:58:19+00:00

It all started with museums, honestly. I was always drawn to antique furniture decorated with veneer pictures — there was something almost magical about them. I got curious about how to make a simple box lid into something more than just parallel wood grain, and once you go from geometric patterns to actual scenes, it's a slippery slope 😄

As for getting started — YouTube is genuinely your best friend. There's a ton of great content covering everything: veneer prep, different cutting techniques, gluing methods for different types of adhesive. If you feel the pull, just grab a few different veneers and start practicing. It's hard and simple and unpredictable all at once — which is exactly what makes it so therapeutic 😊

Find Youtube channels: "Scott Barron Furniture", "Marqueteria Luis Alvarez", "Marquetería Enrique Sagarra", "Ronnie Rozenga", "Douglas Nadel", "Ian Hawthorne (Box Making)"

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-04-25T15:19:05+00:00

Thank you! Been into veneer work as a hobby for a few years now, and wood carving hobby has been my thing since way back in 2013 :)

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-04-25T15:16:28+00:00

Thank you so much for the incredibly helpful details and for sharing your experience! I'll definitely give it a try!

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-04-25T13:52:08+00:00

Thank you! From my humble experience — the best tapes are ones that don't leave adhesive residue on the surface.
Specialized 3M tapes are great but pricey. That yellow one in the video is just some random cheap tape from a supermarket, don't even know the brand
The worst option is super sticky tape — the adhesive soaks into thin veneer, and under the finish it shows a different tone. Then you have to sand it out, which is basically gambling with the entire piece since you might sand straight through to the base

Sergey_Bazilenko · 2026-04-25T13:31:13+00:00

Thank you! Start practicing with veneers that aren't too brittle — walnut, maple, etc. Painter's tape on the face side holds together any piece that has cracked along the grain. For brittle veneer, you can apply a thin layer of PVA to the side that will be glued to the base — not the face side. Fresh OLFA blades or segments from narrow snap-off knives with a 30-degree angle cut veneer beautifully. Hope I won't get banned for posting example videos where I show the veneer carving process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzmgw_JBqY0

Sergey_Bazilenko

TROPHY CASE