What are some basic veneer tools to get me started veneering? For hand veneering, the basic tools will be the:
(Of course you will also need a veneer press, but I cover this with in a different article.)
Is that all that I really need to veneer something? Yes, veneering inherently is not a complicated procedure. If you are veneering a flat surface, all you need are the tools listed above, and you will be fine.
Do I even need these tools if I have a regular saw and tape? Veneer tools are specialized to make it easier to produce a high quality end product. The veneer saw and tape are definately worth the very small investment.
How about the roller and scraper? The roller is used to spread glue evenly. If you are glueing a flat surface, you can use a regular paint roller with a thinner foam so it doesn't absorb too much glue. The scraper is just to scrape the veneer tape and dried glue off of the finished panel, because sanding it off will not yield a good result as it may take too long, and glue is not easily removed by sanding.
Why do you recommend an orbital sander for veneering? Unless you have a small work piece, the orbital sander will be the quickest and safest way to sand, especially if you have piece with marquetry, or a burl. This is becuase if you have lots of veneer pieces coming in at different patterns, the grain directions of all the peices (or a piece of a burl veneer), will be different. An orbital sander will be the best so as not to make cross grain scratches.