re: Veneering Questions

The ideal temperature for the glue is 140°F and it must never go above 160°F or it is ruined so you need something that has enough control where you can keep the glue in that range.  I would not assume that temperature control scale on the skillet is accurate either.  Use a cheap cooking thermometer to monitor.  One like this is what I use.  And that is exactly what I did.  I filled a pot with water and put the jar in the water to cook and heat.  I just used a hot plate and pot, instead of a skillet.  Check to see if you can get the temperature of  jar filled with water in a water bath to stabilize between 140 and 150 and you are good to go.   Another option is to find a small crock pot with a temperature control, fill it with water and put the far in the water and see if you can get the temperature in that range.  Crock pots are sort of designed to maintain an even temperature but without a temperature control may be too high.   

BTW, when the glue is mixed right and at temperature, it is much thinner than you would think it should be.    As soon as the temperature drops to around 120°, IIRC, it starts to gel which is why it works so well for veneer.  Until it gels, you can still move the veneer around but as soon as it does, it sticks so in cooler weather you have to work a little more quickly or have heaters running.  I recommend about a 1-1.5" natural bristle brush to spread the glue.  You can find ones specifically design for HHG but for a first attempt that is not necessary.  I sometimes just use acid brushes for small glue ups but for spreading quickly on veneer and the substrate, you need a larger one to get full coverage quickly (not as critical in warm weather). 

Here is a good video by Shipwright (Paul) that shows the process and the use of the veneer hammer and what convinced me, along with his advice and consultation, to give it a try for that mirror project.  That was my first hammer veneering project and I cannot imagine trying to do that one any other way.