Prevent veneer chip-out with tape

When making cuts in veneered sheet goods, chip-out always looms as a possibility. To keep a veneer face from chipping, apply painter's tape over the cutline—and at the opposite end to maintain a level surface when machining. Make a shallow scoring pass first; then, with the tape still on, raise the blade and finish with a cut to final depth, as shown. Slow your feed rate accordingly when removing a large amount of material. Scoring ¹⁄₁₆ " deep cleanly shears the veneer, (top photo left). After cutting the channel to depth, peel away the tape gently to avoid lifting the wood fibers and reveal a flawless veneer face (top photo right).