More adventures in Hot Hide Glue :-)

The first part may not be specific to HHG.

Does hide glue shrink when it dries? The reason I ask I glued some veneer, with a backer panel and it all looked good but 2 or 3 days later the panel was markedly bowed. Birdsye maple on one side, Anigre on the other the substrate was quartersawn oak. The reason I used QS white oak was when I did this on a 1/4” ply it bowed horribly. Same thickness, Anigre grain was running lengthwise. The concave bow was the birdseye side, so I’m wondering if the birdsye shrunk as the glue dried? Something pulled the panel unequally b/c this is extremely acclimated QS oak.

I did another similar panel with birdseye on one side and a mica stone veneer on the other and it was even worse. I chalked that up the the mica stretching.

So I’m wondering, with “balance veneer” are we talking about more than just some veneer on the other side?

The second part of my question does involve HHG. One of the issues I seem to be having is knowing how thin glue should be. After watching many videos, I got the impression its not critical, just be sure its not too thick.

The reason I ask is when I try to glue something like an 8X24” panel, the glue is setting up too fast. I by the time I get the veneer coated, the substrate is already starting to gel. My shop is not cold and the glue is @145F.

I’ve heard about warming wood & veneer with a heat gun, keeping the hammer warm, etc.

I’m asking myself, how the heck did anyone hammer veneer a 24×24 panel in New England in January?

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!