The panel will be ~30x16", using commercial veneer. I see the point about not getting the vacuum down quick enough. I was hoping to get around that by most of the air being sucked out with the vacuumm, with just a little work to do with the pump, but maybe that's a pipe dream.
Well when you said panel, I was thinking 4' x 8' or something on the large end of things. Using commercial veneer(thin 1/30 and less) I would consider using the hammer veneer method.
I have done full panels with just a veneer hammer, hot hide and a clothes iron.
Unlike some other veneer workers, I did one 14" piece at a time. In photo one I put the first panel down and waited till the next day to iron out a couple bubbles. Then I put down the 2nd panel and pulled it tight with the veneer hammer. No tape in the process.
On the table below I didn't even bother with getting the edges just right. I laid down the 2 sections like you see above and I had I gap in the middle. I expected it, so out came the router and a bit to cut the channel. In goes some interesting piece of inlay sitting around and a clean surface is there. No bags, vacuum pumps just glue and a hand tool.
You have mentioned you are on a tight budget. Well this is the cheap route. You can easily make one of these. Don't get talked into making a big wide one like 1 in the photo. A long handled one out of scraps that you can put your hand on the head and wiggle it along will work like a charm.
Take a look at the address below. He shows you in steps how to veneer with a simple set up.
Richard I have a vacuum system I built from parts and I have a glue pot and a veneer hammer. I am not making large panels. I rarely use the vacuum system as the other is just so easy and quick. Do not try to hammer veneer with yellow glue like a couple other here advocate. It does not work... well it doesn't for me.
[url]http://woodtreks.com/learn-how-hammer-veneers-hand-tools-inlay-marquetry-hide-glue/1493/[/URL]
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