Another angle.

What are you planning on using for glue? Heat set or contact cement? I've used both methods and had splits with both types. Course I was using a non backed veneer too.

Weldwood Contact Cement...the flammable kind.

Good stuff. Be sure to use it in a well ventilated area or you're going to get a buzzz!

I intended to use it in the garage, but the temperature is not cooperating. Seems everything needs to be at 65 degrees for 24 hours before applying and 72 hours after for proper bond strength. So.....I wait a month before finishing the project or I open some windows in the spare bedroom.

After reading all the warnings about flash fires...probably best to wait until it hits 65+ here to do the gluing. I have a bench, should be able to do it outside.  But what about insects? Should be able to bring it indoors after it has set for awhile...3 days at 65+ is a long time. Seems like I'm talking myself into returning the contact cement and getting the non-flammable kind.

 

Turns out the best thing to do is use the flammable contact cement. The following posts will illustrate what can go wrong. 

Still cutting and fitting pieces. Once the front edging is done I'll need to trim 1/4" off.

Nothing glued yet. 

Closeup of a corner. Nothing glued yet.

Watch that inside outside stuff. Changes in humidity will cause you trouble. I did my glueing outside and after attaching moved the speaker back inside to try and maintain a stable humidity level. If you're working in the garage with that glue don't forget that a gas appliance like a water heater or dryer can ignite the fumes. A house burned not to long ago because someone was painting cabinets in the closed garage and the water heater set off the fumes. Could make for a bad day!

Went with the non-flammable glue. Did not want to deal with temperature and humidity changes. Bad things can happen. Everything is cut out...ready for glue.

Just snagged a pair of poorly painted Heresy I's. Appear to be raw birch. Can't tell the year, labels are gone and no serial number stamped on the speakers. Looks like I'll have 2 pair of Bubinga Heresy's.

Been thinking about the walnut Heresy II...a few coats of BLO and it will look like it came fresh from the factory.

 

Ready to glue the edge banding down. Carefully cut, and laid out the veneer on the speaker. Once satisfied with the pattern, top and bottom, sides are all mirror images of each other, taped them down.

Stirred the Weldwood non-flammable contact cement. Sure doesn't look like the stuff in the glass bottles. Very little odor. Easily washes out with water.

Used a brush to spread the glue. The veneer had a tendency to curl. Once dry it flattened back out.

Shot of the curling veneer. To reduce the curling I should have applied a light mist of water to the opposite side of the veneer.

Top and bottom being glued down. Had to be very careful with the corners. Got them to come out OK. Used a hand made scraper (4"X6"X1/2") with rounded edges to flatten the veneer.