Hi Guys, I'll try and answer both questions here. The thicknesses on the veneers range from 1/32 to 1/100th of an inch, with most around 1/50 ~ 1/60. The burled veneers are usually the thinnest, and are totally deformed and warped when you get them. I often have to steam them, then put them in a press to flatten them out to be able to mark and cut them without having them crack in everywhich direction. Some of the woods are very easy to work with, and some are extremely brittle, independent of their thickness.
If the veneer is really thin, and you get a very good tight edge during application, then a seal coat of epoxy followed by VERY light sanding is enough to give a smooth transition. If the veneer is thicker (even the 1/60) then it is going to leave an edge that is too high for 6 oz cloth to lie over without leaving a small space at the edge. If the wood is dark in color, you can be a bit more aggressive with sanding a slight bevel along the edge of the veneer (by hand). If it is a light colored wood, it is better to put a bead of epoxy around the edge of the design, and let it set up for a couple days, then sand a bevel into the epoxy bead to make a smooth transition from design to deck. The light colored wood has a tendency to become transparent, after wetting out, if it is sanded too thin. And you won't find this out until its too late .
Thanks for the nice comments, I appreciate it. If I wasn't very clear here, please ask again!
Cheers,
Bob